Ryan Nicol
After weighing a run since October, former Broward County School Board candidate Elijah Manley has officially launched a challenge to state Rep. Bobby DuBose in House District 94.
Manley will be competing against DuBose for the Democratic nomination.
“I grew up on Section 8 housing, food stamps, and medicaid — right here in our district,” Manley said in a statement to Florida Politics on his run becoming official.
“I went to our schools, breathed our air, and walked our streets all my life. I believe that I am the best choice because I have a vision and a policy agenda that will make working people’s lives better. We live in very perilous times, and that requires bold unwavering progressive leadership.”
Manley pursued the District 8 seat on the Broward School Board when he was just 19 years old. He’ll turn 21 in January, which would make him one of the youngest politicians ever elected to the Legislature, should he unseat DuBose.
That will be a tall task for Manley. He earned 43,000 votes in his 2018 School Board run. That was good for less than 19 percent of the vote, placing him third out of three candidates.
DuBose is an established incumbent and a former Chair of the Broward County legislative delegation. He won his first legislative election in 2014 and represents HD 94, which covers parts of Broward County including Fort Lauderdale, Plantation and Wilton Manors.
Manley’s Wednesday statement also laid out his main policy positions, many of which are on the more liberal side of the political continuum.
“Among other policies, this campaign supports criminal justice reform, ending cash bail, affordable housing, investing an additional $1.5b in funding for education, a starting salary for teachers at $70k/year, a Green New Deal in Florida, an end to the big sugar industry, decriminalization of sex work, decriminalization of marijuana, an LGBT-Bill of rights, repealing the travesty of ‘right-to-work,’ and a $15 minimum wage.”
Some of those more progressive positions are not surprising. Manley has endorsed Bernie Sanders, a Democratic socialist, in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
That’s after Manley launched a stunt campaign for President himself, despite the requirement that presidential candidates be at least 35 years of age. Manley said he was looking to run as a member of either the Socialist Party USA or the Green Party, but has since ceased his bid.
Manley’s statement on his HD 94 run also echoed another Sanders hallmark by targeting big money in political campaigns.
“Our campaign is proud to not have a Super-PAC or big donors, because big money undermines our democracy and voters confidence in the ability of government to represent them,” Manley said.
“Central to our campaign is the fight to ensure that big corporations in Florida pay their fair share of taxes.”
Of course, super PACs don’t typically funnel money to state legislative campaigns. Those organizations are barred from directly contributing to candidates. Though money certainly flows through state-level political committees.
DuBose faced no opposition in either 2016 or 2018.
14 comments
Proud Establishment Dem
December 18, 2019 at 3:17 pm
I donated to Bobby DuBose after I heard that Elijah Manley was running. Elijah Manley needs to lose in a landslide…
Elijah
December 18, 2019 at 4:26 pm
How is a grown man or women that strongly opposed to a youth candidate to the point where they are compelled to donate to Bobby. A man who gets millions from special interest groups like big sugar
Flaming Liberal
December 18, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Bobby Dubose has spent his entire life HELPING OTHERS, in fact, that trait runs in his family.
Someone who is doing a great job does NOT need to be replaced. RE-ELECT BOBBY DUBOSE !!!
Elijah
December 18, 2019 at 4:26 pm
We can do better !!
Joseph G
December 18, 2019 at 3:45 pm
I know this young man! He’s committed to change! That’s what we need now
Robert
December 18, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Elijah has committed himself to structural change and will take on the big corporations that abuse Florida workers like Disney and the sugar industry. We need a new face like Elijah who is willing to talk about issues that no else will address.
Luis
December 18, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Doing all I can to help this young bright man! We need more of him in Congress and not career politicians. Both parties need a fresh restart.
Lance
December 18, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Elijah is truly the candidate of the people. It’s time we elect those who are willing to stand up for us instead of those who only want to stand up for the status quo. I am proud to support Elijah Manley in this race!
Elijah
December 18, 2019 at 4:27 pm
I love Elijah. He is a great friend of mine and we have worked together to tackle huge climate issues !!
Tamika K
December 18, 2019 at 4:47 pm
I have supported Bobby DuBose in the past. However, DuBose has become insider and less responsive to the district. I’m not entirely sure about the young man, but at least he has a fresh start.
Je'Ryan
December 18, 2019 at 11:33 pm
Get to learn more about him, and do research on him please- just so that way you can at least put him into consideration as a candidate for your vote.
Andre Miranda
December 18, 2019 at 8:28 pm
If you want someone to truly shake up the establishment and bring some real change in favor of the common American and the American youth, vote for Elijah Manley, not the corporate, elitist sell-out that is DuBose. Defend the people, not the few with their pockets already filled and with greed in their eyes. #VoteElijahManley2020
Je'Ryan
December 18, 2019 at 11:36 pm
Elijah is a very good person with a good heart. I’ve been his friend for 2 years and I’ve seen and know the things he can do; let alone make possible. I only want the best for him in this race because I know he can truly handle it. I want people from all walks of life supporting him as others are doing right now. So this man can not only leave a legacy for Florida, but for black men and boys all over the world so believe in him like I do.
Tausif
December 19, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Woah.. the comment section is filled with bad vibes! So much negativity towards a young black man who eats, breathes and lives to serve the community. Winning or losing is secondary! We should allow this young man to participate in the run with dignity!
Comments are closed.