Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's bid for a South Florida congressional seat with a large Black voting population is drawing criticism from Democratic activists, elected officials, and primary challengers who argue the longtime lawmaker failed to consult community leaders before entering the race.

Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat who has represented a Broward County-based district since 2005, announced earlier this year that she would seek election in the 20th Congressional District, a majority-Black district currently represented by Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

Wasserman Schultz's decision has sparked a backlash among some Democrats who contend the move could undermine Black political representation in one of Florida's few remaining majority-Black congressional districts.

"I think, for sure, it was a bad move by the congresswoman to run in this district," Elijah Manley, a 27-year-old progressive organizer challenging Wasserman Schultz in the Democratic primary, told The Hill. "It was selfish and all about her, her career, and not about the community."

Manley said Wasserman Schultz failed to engage community stakeholders before launching her campaign.

"She failed to do any meaningful dialogue with the community before announcing her run, and it comes off as a hostile takeover of the district," he said.

The criticism has extended beyond Manley. Luther "Luke" Campbell, the rapper and community activist who is also running in the Aug. 18 Democratic primary, questioned Wasserman Schultz's strategy in a post on X.

"If Wasserman Schultz's strategy is to come in because there are multiple Black candidates and hope we 'split the vote' ... that's the same old playbook — divide and conquer," Campbell wrote.

Campbell added that the district "deserves representation from someone who knows it, lives it, and fights for it."

Wasserman Schultz has defended her candidacy, arguing that her experience representing communities within the district makes her well-qualified for the seat.

"I know how to stand up for, fight for, and represent diverse communities," Wasserman Schultz told NBC's Kristen Welker in May. "The feedback that I'm getting all across Congressional District 20 has been enthusiastic and supportive."

She noted that she has represented nine of the district's 14 municipalities during her years in Congress.

"They know me, and I know them, and they know that they want someone who has the seasoning, the experience," she said.

The issue has also drawn opinions from Democratic Party leaders.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said she was "disappointed by the congresswoman's refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue about her decision."

Meanwhile, 10 members of Florida's Democratic National Committee delegation issued a joint statement arguing that Democrats cannot credibly oppose Republican efforts to diminish Black political power while treating one of the state's few majority-Black districts as a political opportunity for an incumbent seeking a safer seat, according to the Miami Herald.