Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, has officially declared his candidacy for the 2026 Midterm Election.
During a Sunday appearance on the news show This Week In South Florida, the former “Me So Horny” rapper confirmed his plans to run for Florida’s District 20 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. To focus entirely on his political aspirations, the free speech advocate resigned from his position as the Miami Edison High School football coach last month. He is now set to face off against the current representative, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in the upcoming Democratic primary.
This campaign marks Campbell’s return to the political arena after a notable 2011 run for Miami-Dade County mayor, where he finished fourth with nearly 11% of the vote. While he considered a run in 2024, he ultimately held back, explaining that he “needed to do more outreach to community, and there was a sitting congresswoman who was doing the job.”
Now, Campbell believes his unique background makes him the most capable candidate to bridge the gap between local needs and federal power. While the incumbent faces a 15-count federal indictment involving government disaster funds, Campbell has focused his platform on his ability to negotiate within the current political climate.
A major pillar of Campbell’s campaign is his ability to command a room and negotiate with high-level officials across the political spectrum. Pointing to his deep ties in South Florida and his history of activism, he argues that his profile gives him an edge that career politicians lack. “In this race, who’s going to be able to talk to Marco Rubio? Who’s going to be able to talk to Donald Trump? Me,” Campbell said. “I’m the only one who can do that in this race.”
Campbell’s track record of getting things done in neighborhoods like Liberty City serves as his proof of concept for reaching across the aisle. He credits his past successes to a willingness to engage with anyone necessary to improve his community. “Anything I got done in Liberty City, anything I got done in Miami, I had to have a conversation with Mayor Suarez,” he added. “Through Keon Hardemon. I had to have conversations with different people from the other side of the aisle.”
As he pivots from the football field to the campaign trail, Campbell is betting that his reputation in the community will resonate with District 20 voters.
