Phil Jackson

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

Phil Jackson

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 23, 2022

Education

Graduate

North Carolina Central University, 1983

Ph.D

Lynn University, 2002

Other

Harvard University, 2003

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1973 - 2002

Personal

Birthplace

Goldsboro, N.C.

Religion

Disciple of Christ

Contact

Campaign website

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

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

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

Biography

Phil Jackson was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Jackson's professional experience includes working as a college vice president of academic affairs. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1973 to 2002. Jackson earned a graduate degree from North Carolina Central University in 1983, a degree from Harvard University in 2003, and a Ph.D. from Lynn University in 2002.

Jackson has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• American Sociological Association
• National Council of Black American Affairs (NCBAA)
• National Education Association
• Palm Beach State College Retirees Association
• NAACP
• Navy Chief Petty Officer Association

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.
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.
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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

Phil Jackson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jackson'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.

Phil Jackson is a retired United States Navy Chief Petty and retired College administrator with extensive political experience in local, state and national scenes. He is a community activists who works to provide a voice to those who lack a platform to advocate for the needs of their families and communities.

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?

• Phil supports providing quality healthcare for all Americans by providing a public option.
• He support immigration reform to allow a path to citizenship and support for the people of Cuba, Haiti and those in the Central American Northern Triangle.
• Phil advocates the protection of our environmentally sensitive and tribal lands through a Green New Deal.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Phil believes that American has to promote democracy and human rights abroad and social justice and civil rights at home. Every American has to have access to quality healthcare via a public option. He supports DACA and a path to citizens for our friends and family.

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

Phil has looked up to activist and politician Julian Bond for the example Senator Bond set for him and the other members of the North Carolina Central University student chapter of the NAACP as Senator Bond stood with them as they sought justice for those who were killed by a band of Klansman and Nazis in what has become known as the "Greensboro Massacre."

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

I enjoy reading the works of political philosophers. I particularly like English philosopher John Locke's "Two Treatises on Civil Government" where in he expressed that people by nature are free and equal and have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of property (happiness).

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

The most important characteristic of an elected officials is to conduct themselves statesman, keeping the general welfare of the citizenry at the center of all their decisions and actions.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Leadership and Integrity and the values of honor, courage, and commitment.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility for someone in elected office is to be attune to the issues affecting their constituents and to advocate in support of them.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of a United States Congressional Representative who serve the needs of all his constituents regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion with a particular focus on the needs of senior citizens, children and families and the less fortunate in our communities.

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

At the age 24, while a graduate student at North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, Phil along with his fellow members of the university's student chapter of the NAACP, joined in student lead protest with political activist and politician Georgia State Senator Julian Bond (NCCU Lecturer), North Carolina State Attorney General, Mickey Micheux, and Chancellor Albert Whiting in protest that lead to justice for those who lost their lives in the Greensboro Massacre.

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

Phil Jackson made a commitment to join the United States Navy upon graduation from high school at the age of 17. He first duty station was the Naval Hospital Corpsman at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) where he served as corpsman on the surgical ward and laboratory assistant in the Hematology Stat Lab. His last active duty assignment was the commands laboratory technician in NAVCOMMSTA Nea Makri, Greece. Upon completion of his active duty service, Phil joined the United States Navy active reserves where among other assignments, he served as the Leading Chief Petty Officer for Naval Hospital Jax at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, West Palm Beach, Florida. Chief Jackson's last assignment was Leading Chief Petty Officer and inaugural member of Naval Central Command, West Palm Beach extension.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is "Thomas the Melungeon: Free Person of Color Civil War Soldier" by Gigi Best. I like this book because of the light it shed on the plight of my family and other people of african, european, and native american descent in our society.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

N/A

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

I am a singer, thus there is no single song that gets stuck in my head. However, I do find myself singing gospel songs at some of the most inopportune times much to the surprise and often joy of those who might be within ear shot.

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

The divisions and lack unity within some of our communities that arises from time to time is something that I have struggled with over the years. We have to continue to advocate that all people are born free and equal and are endowed with certain inalienable natural rights to "life, liberty and a pursuit of property (happiness).

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

The United States House of Representatives, unlike any other body, is the voice for the diverse constituencies that exist across our name. "It is the people's house."

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

Although it could be beneficial, it is not essential that a representative have prior government or political experience. These career politicians develop a kind or blindness or tunnel vision that puts them out-of-touch with the issues and concerns of the citizenry. America could benefit from fewer lawyers and career politicians in Congress and more professionals like educators, nurses, police officer, etc. who hold the kinds of jobs that the vast majority of their constituents hold.

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

The greatest challenges of the United States over the next decade is to bring stability to the Western Hemisphere by developing meaning immigration reform that address the push and pull factors that causes children and families to endanger their lives by navigating treacherous terrain as they traverse to the borders of the United States. It also of critical importance that the U.S. address the matters affecting the people of Haiti and Cuba.

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

I would like to serve on committees that address the issues of workers, children and families, military and veterans affairs, foreign policy.

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?

This is a difficult question since I think that for a good congressman two years might not be enough given the fact this means they have one year to focus their total attention to the needs of the people in their district and the second requires a focus on reelection which focus less on policy issues and more on staying in office. Nevertheless, I am an advocate for term limits for members of both houses of Congress.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Phil is supports term limits for United States Representatives and Senators.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Did you know that there are "automobiles" mentioned in the Bible? God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden in a "fury" and the disciples were all in one "accord."

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I believe that politics is the "art of compromise" and reasonable compromise is critical to a successful democratic government.

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?

I would work with colleague on both sides of the aisle to draft and introduce legislation to fund critical needs in my district and across the nation.

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.

See also

2022 Elections

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Government

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Newsletters

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External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Florida District 20

Website

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)