Democrat Todd Delmay’s bid to unseat Republican Rep. Hillary Cassel in House District 101 just got a boost from 32 current and former elected South Florida leaders.
Delmay’s newest backers include two Senators, two Representatives, nine county officials, nine city officials and 10 former lawmakers and municipal leaders.
The Presidents of four Democratic clubs are also endorsing Delmay, a longtime activist who works as Executive Director of SAVE[1], Florida’s longest-running LGBTQ equality organization.
Rep. Mitch Rosenwald, the immediate past Mayor of Oakland Park, said Delmay is “the kind of partner we want in Tallahassee.”
“(He’s) grounded, collaborative, and laser-focused on solving problems for Broward families,” Rosenwald said in a statement. “From addressing skyrocketing insurance costs to strengthening our public schools and infrastructure, he’ll put people ahead of politics and deliver results.”
Broward County Mayor Beam Furr called Delmay “the strongest contender to represent the values and voice of the people in this district and deliver on day one.”
“Todd Delmay has the experience and temperament to turn big ideas into practical results,” Furr said. “He listens, builds coalitions, and gets things done for Broward families.”
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said Broward needs “a problem-solver who will work with cities to tackle infrastructure, public safety, and housing affordability.”
“Delmay has earned that reputation,” he said. “He’ll be a voice who can bring people together and win support across the district.”
Other elected leaders backing Delmay include Sens. Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith; Reps. Dan Daley and Michele Rayner; Broward Property Appraiser Marty Kiar; Broward Commissioner Steve Geller; Broward School Board members Maura McCarthy Bulman, Debra Hixon, Sarah Leonardi and Rebecca Thompson; Miami-Dade School Board member Joe Geller; Davie Vice Mayor Caryl Hattan; Fort Lauderdale Commissioners Steve Glassman and Ben Sorensen; Hollywood Commissioners Kevin Biederman, Idelma Quintana and Caryl Shuham; and Dania Beach Commissioners Lori Lewellen and Luis Rimoli.
Former Sen. Eleanor Sobel, former Rep. Fred Lippman, former Hollywood Mayor Mara Guilianti, former Hollywood Commissioners Linda Anderson and Dick Blattner, and former Hallandale Beach Commissioner Sabrina Javellana also endorsed Delmay.
So did Karen Fortman of the Broward Dems Council of Club Presidents, Phil Fortman of the Davie/Cooper City Democratic Club, Alfredo Olvera of the Dolphin Democrats and Elaine Schwartz of the Hills Democratic Club — all in their personal capacities.
State records show that all of Delmay’s new endorsers except Rimoli, an independent, are registered Democrats.
Delmay said in a statement that he is “honored to earn the trust of so many leaders who have dedicated themselves to serving Broward families.”
“Together,” he said, “we’ll keep fighting for safe neighborhoods, great schools, economic opportunity, and a more just, inclusive Florida.”
A Hollywood resident, Delmay and his husband, Jeff, played a pivotal role in the fight for marriage equality in the Sunshine State, both as plaintiffs to a monumental lawsuit and later as one of the six first same-sex couples in Florida to be legally wed[2] in January 2015.
He then chaired the Board of Prideline[3], led the SMART Ride[4] nonprofit to raise funds and awareness for AIDS service organizations and served as President of the Dolphin Democrats[5].
This isn’t his first bid for state office, nor is it his first attempt at supplanting Cassel. He challenged her in 2022 but lost in the Democratic Primary by less than 6 percentage points.
Cassel has since switched[6] her party affiliation to Republican. She had previously switched from Republican to Democrat in 2017.
Delmay filed[7] for the 2026 election in February. He remains the only person challenging Cassel.
HD 101[8] covers parts of Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach and Hollywood and leans blue, with 42,963 registered Democrats, 40,956 third- or no-party voters and 30,310 Republicans.
The 2026 Primary is Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.
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