Elvin Dowling

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Elvin Dowling

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 23, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Maryland University College, 2003

Personal

Birthplace

West Palm Beach, Fla.

Religion

Baptist

Profession

President and CEO

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Elvin Dowling (Democratic Party) ran in a special election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 20th Congressional District. He lost in the special Democratic primary on November 2, 2021.

Dowling also ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 20th Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on August 23, 2022.

Dowling completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Elvin Dowling was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland University College in 2003 and a verified certificate in preventing pandemics from Harvard University in 2020.

Dowling's professional experience includes being the president and CEO for Global Image Consulting, chief of staff for the National Urban League, and chief of staff for Alpha Phi Alpha. He has been associated with Palm the Beach Harvest, Inc. Food Bank; Go-to-High-School and Go-To-College Mentoring programs; the Palm Beach Indivisibles; Broward County Public Schools; the Broward County Chapter of the American Red Cross; and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Elections

2022

Special election

See also: Florida's 20th Congressional District special election, 2022

Florida's 20th Congressional District special election, 2022 (November 2, 2021, Democratic primary)

Florida's 20th Congressional District special election, 2022 (November 2, 2021, Republican primary)

General election

Special general election for U.S. House Florida District 20

The following candidates ran in the special general election for U.S. House Florida District 20 on January 11, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D)	79.0	44,707
		Jason Mariner (R)	19.4	10,966
		Mike ter Maat (L)	0.7	395
		Jim Flynn (No Party Affiliation)	0.5	265
		Leonard Serratore (No Party Affiliation)	0.5	262
		Shelley Fain (No Party Affiliation) (Write-in)	0.0	22

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 56,617
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Robert Ornelas (No Party Affiliation)

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 20

The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 20 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick	23.8	11,662
		Dale Holness	23.8	11,657
		Barbara Sharief	17.7	8,684
		Perry Thurston	14.8	7,283
		Bobby DuBose	7.0	3,458
		Omari Hardy	5.9	2,902
	Submit photo	Priscilla Taylor	3.4	1,677
		Elvin Dowling	1.3	646
		Emmanuel Morel	0.9	454
		Phil Jackson	0.7	343
	Submit photo	Imran Siddiqui	0.6	316

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 49,082
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Dwight Anderson (D)
• Krystal Jordan (D)
• Matt Boswell (D)
• Pradel Vilme (D)
• Natalia Allen (D)

Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 20

Jason Mariner defeated Greg Musselwhite in the special Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 20 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jason Mariner	57.8	3,500
		Greg Musselwhite	42.2	2,553

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,053
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Lateresa Jones (R)
• Roland Florez Jr. (R)
• Bernard Sansaricq (R)
• Vic DeGrammont (R)

Regular election

See also: Florida's 20th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 20

Incumbent Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick defeated Drew-Montez Clark in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 20 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D)	72.3	136,215
		Drew-Montez Clark (R)	27.7	52,151

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 188,366
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jim Flynn (No Party Affiliation)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 20

Incumbent Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick defeated Dale Holness and Anika Tene Omphroy in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 20 on August 23, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick	65.6	47,601
		Dale Holness	28.6	20,783
		Anika Tene Omphroy	5.8	4,197

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 72,581
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Matt Boswell (D)
• Phil Jackson (D)
• Marlon Onias (D)
• Barbara Sharief (D)
• Elvin Dowling (D)
• Imran Siddiqui (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Drew-Montez Clark advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 20.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Elvin Dowling completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dowling's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A native of Palm Beach County, Reverend Elvin Dowling has quietly worked to uplift the lives of the “least of these”. As a high school student, Elvin won the Palm Beach Post “Pathfinder’s Award” for his commitment to community service. A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Dowling is the winner of the Florida Book Award and other distinguished literary prizes. What’s more, he continues to serve the people in a way that would make us all proud. As a first-time candidate for public office, Elvin is far from being just another career politician. As a servant leader, he is offering himself for service—to the people—as our next member of Congress. Furthermore, as an engaged private citizen, Elvin has been committed to the values that make America a “more perfect union.”

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Better Jobs
• Safer Communities
• Servant Leadership

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Access to Affordable Healthcare and the Expansion of Medicare/Medicaid

• Expand access to affordable healthcare options that incentivize disease prevention
• Work with the district's state legislative delegations to accept Medicaid Expansion
• Support legislation that accelerates the expiration of certain life-saving patents to allow for generic options.

Business & Contracting Opportunities for Minority Entrepreneurs
• Advocate for the implementation of local Minority/Women Owned Business Ordinances
• Expand federal contracting opportunities that ensure minority participation in all federally funded projects
• Expand funding for community development financial institutions serving minorities

Increase Funding for Affordable Housing & Homeless Services
•. Advocate for an expansion of resources for to assist homebuyers in obtaining affordable housing
• Create sustainable housing solutions for those who are in need of safe shelter
• Support legislation that increase direct services to our homeless neighbors

Fair Law Enforcement Practices & Criminal Justice Reform
•. Advocate for legislation that reallocates public protection resources based upon community needs
•. Support legislation that bans the use of chokeholds and requires law enforcement to turn on—body cameras

•. Support legislation that eliminates cash bail for non-violent offenses.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

The greatest example is the God who keeps and sustains me. My personal hero is Rep. Alcee L. Hastings of Florida. He was a longtime mentor and friend who taught me the values of hard work, public service and, most importantly, getting back up every time life knocks you down.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Written by Elvin Dowling, a Pulitzer Prize Nominee and winner of the coveted Florida Book Award, "Still Invisible?" is more than a narrative on the challenges facing Black males. After all, everyone recognizes there's a problem, and another book simply highlighting those challenges does very little to address the issues at hand, contribute to meaningful and substantive dialogue or offer reasonable solutions on how to help make America better. What makes this book different from anything else you have ever read, however, is that it provides the reader with the tools and resources they need to factually contextualize the issues facing black men today, while not letting anyone off the hook for the problems we need to overcome--be they self-inflicted wounds or perpetrated by the state.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Accountability

I believe in advancing “good government” by insisting that politicians serve the public interest interest—and not just to themselves. As such, I will always uphold the highest standards of honesty, integrity and fidelity in all matters related to my service to the people.


Action
I will continue to advance social, economic and political change by engaging first—and foremost—with the people who make up the communities I have served my entire life. As such, I will continue to work to improve the quality of life for all humankind.



Equality
I will fight every day to face down inequality—and dismantle it brick by brick—to bring into reality the dream of a “beloved community” as envisioned by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



Equity
I will always endeavor to respect the will of the people. I will leverage my influence to advocate for an equitable community that seeks access for all.



Inclusivity
I aim to support people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized due to age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability or mental illness.



Justice
I demand fair treatment for all people.



Kindness
Regardless of who you are, how you choose to identify yourself, or what you believe, I believe that humanity requires kindness and respect for one another. I will always endeavor to treat people with dignity and respect—even when we agree to disagree.



Transparency
I will operate in an ethical and fiscally responsible manner that is responsive to those I humbly serve.



Truth

I will always seek to promote civil discourse, built upon universal truths, that advances the ideals that lead to our nation and our communities becoming “a more perfect union.”

What legacy would you like to leave?

To leave the mark upon the world - as a committed servant leader - that can never be erased.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The explosion of the Space Shuttle. I was in the sixth grade as a student at Westward Elementary in West Palm Beach when I saw a trail of destruction in the sky when this national tragedy unfurled right before our very eyes.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working as an intern for the first Black County Commissioner for Palm Beach County, Florida, the late Maude Ford Lee. I held that position for a year before being hired as a County Commission aide and the youngest ever Public Relations Director for a Palm Beach County Commissioner.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Hold On...Change is Cioming" by Sounds of Blackness

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Having lost siblings and cousins to the scourge of gang and drug related violence, I have been deeply impacted by the pain of gun violence in this country. As such, I have had to overcome the grief of such immeasurable losses. This pain, however, has helped me to understand and appreciate the challenges that other families face when dealing with loss. Just as importantly, having struggled early in life in overcoming extreme poverty, I know what it's like to not know where my next meal would come from. As Chairman of a major food bank, I have turned that personal expreience into a passionate mission to alleviate hunger in my district. As a result, I have helpoed to connect more than 1 MILLION familes to nearly 20 MILLION pounds of FREE FOOD since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The U.S. House is one of the few institutions in modern democracies that is steeped in the values of people and tradition. What makes it unique is the ability of ordinary citizens to elect one from amongst them to represent their interests before the nation. This is truly how a representative democracy should work and is one of the fundamental pillars that help to make America a beacon of hope for the world.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that experience working both in and around government is important to being able to represent people in a real, meaningful and effective way. As a former aide for an electd county commissioner, I worked to address constituent concerns at the local level. Furthermore, having qworked on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC as an aide to an individual who would go on to become the Dean of the Florida delegation, I understand what it means to be responsive to the needs of the people we are tasked to serve, with the goal of working to get things done on their behalf.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The insidious continuation of systemic racism that has the potential to undo our great nation if we continue to not treat it as the public health emergency that it is.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

As a new Member of Congress, I would be interested in serving on the US House Committee on Agriculture. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding appropriations for various governmental agencies, programs, and activities, as defined by House rules. As Chairman of one of South Florida's largest independent food banks, I have worked to help alleviate food insecurity, which is also an issue that comes under the jurisdiction of this important committee.

Additionally, I would be honored to serve on the US House Small Business Committee. The House Small Business Committee was established to protect and assist small businesses. As such, the Committee has jurisdiction over matters related to small business financial aid, regulatory flexibility, and paperwork reduction. Additionally, the House Small Business Committee has oversight and legislative authority over the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its programs.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

N/A

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. I believe that members of Congress should have to face the will of the people every two years, to ensure that the needs of constituents are being addressed by those who ask to serve in elected office.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Perhaps one of the most effective legislators that I would pattern myself after is the late Congressman Alcee ZHastings who was an independent voice that continued to spek to the issues impacting people, without fear of the consequences. Just as importantly, I would also follow the example of Rep. Tip O'Neil, former House Speaker, who was known for building relationships across party lines to get things done on behalf of people.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

One of the things that I have been impacted the most is the very real impact that a "Black Tax" has on the residents of my district. For example, the residents of an area known as the Glades, which happens to be the poorest area in the State of Florida, pay more for access to water provided by Palm Beach County than most jurisdictions. This example of the "hidden tax" that Black people in almost every aspect of their life, from financial services, to government services, to healthcare administration. As a member of Congress, I will work to advance legislation that eliminates the "black tax", thereby providing a more just and equitable society that helps to make America a "more perfect union."

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

As a member of the House, I will work to ensure that the needs of residents of Florida's 20th Congressional District are considered and protected in all legislation that comes before me for consideration. As such, I will only support bills that raise revenue that have off-sets that ensure that minority populations are protected and their needs are addressed by the bills that are proposed before the House.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

U.S. House Florida District 20

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Footnotes

[show]

Florida's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Ashley Moody (R)

Rick Scott (R)

Representatives

District 1

Jimmy Patronis (R)

District 2

Neal Dunn (R)

District 3

Kat Cammack (R)

District 4

Aaron Bean (R)

District 5

John Rutherford (R)

District 6

Randy Fine (R)

District 7

Cory Mills (R)

District 8

Mike Haridopolos (R)

District 9

Darren Soto (D)

District 10

Maxwell Frost (D)

District 11

Daniel Webster (R)

District 12

Gus Bilirakis (R)

District 13

Anna Luna (R)

District 14

Kathy Castor (D)

District 15

Laurel Lee (R)

District 16

Vern Buchanan (R)

District 17

Greg Steube (R)

District 18

Scott Franklin (R)

District 19

Byron Donalds (R)

District 20

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D)

District 21

Brian Mast (R)

District 22

Lois Frankel (D)

District 23

Jared Moskowitz (D)

District 24

Frederica Wilson (D)

District 25

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)

District 26

Mario Diaz-Balart (R)

District 27

Maria Elvira Salazar (R)

District 28

Carlos Gimenez (R)

Republican Party (22)

Democratic Party (8)