Nancy Metayer Bowen, vice chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party and Coral Springs commissioner, was found dead in her home Wednesday, and authorities have arrested her husband in connection with her death.
Bowen, 58, served as vice mayor and commissioner of Coral Springs and was preparing to announce a congressional bid for the seat held by Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Police conducted a wellness check at her residence Wednesday morning and discovered her body.
What Authorities Say
Stephen Bowen, Bowen’s husband, is in custody as investigators treat the death as a domestic violence incident, according to police. “There are no additional suspects involved,” a department spokesperson said.
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
Congressional Race Plans
Bowen was set to announce her candidacy Thursday in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, according to Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz and reports from the Miami Herald. She had been elected to the Coral Springs commission in 2020 and was re-elected in 2024, earning appointment to a second term as vice mayor in November 2025.
Her planned campaign would have challenged Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat currently facing federal indictment on charges related to misusing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief funds.
The Incumbent’s Legal Troubles
Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants were indicted in December on allegations they diverted FEMA funds earmarked for COVID-19 vaccination staffing into her 2021 congressional campaign. Prosecutors say the money was funneled through multiple accounts to obscure its origins.
The congresswoman also faces accusations of conspiracy to file a false federal tax return. If convicted, she could receive up to 53 years in prison, while her brother Edwin Cherfilus faces up to 35 years.
The House Ethics Committee found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty on 25 of 27 counts in a Friday vote, with a full committee hearing scheduled for mid-April to determine potential sanctions, which could include censure or expulsion.
This story has been updated. CNN’s investigations team contributed to this report.
