More than 100 people packed Congregation B’nai Israel in Boca Raton this week to watch Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz and Republican challenger Scott Singer spar over Israel, Social Security and South Florida’s insurance crisis in a forum that grew increasingly tense as the hour wore on. Television cameras were not allowed inside, but the exchange laid bare just how personal and consequential the race for Florida’s redrawn 25th Congressional District has become.
The event, held Tuesday night, was organized specifically for the district’s sizable Jewish voting population, and both candidates leaned hard into that audience. According to WPEC, Moskowitz pointed to his record supporting Israel and combating antisemitism, while Singer argued that some Jewish voters are looking for a new representative and said they should choose a candidate who strongly supports Israel and opposes antisemitism. Congregation B’nai Israel had billed the gathering as a forum rather than a debate, with timed opening and closing statements and predetermined questions about Israel and antisemitism, according to bocaratontribune.com, which reported the one-hour event ran from 7 to 8 p.m. in the temple’s VIP Ballroom on Yamato Road.
Moskowitz and Singer did find some agreement, striking common ground on Ukraine, Iran and Cuba policy. But the tone shifted once the conversation turned to stock trading, Social Security and the campaigns’ dueling attacks against each other, per the same WPEC report.
Stock Trades and a Redevelopment Fight Take Center Stage
Republicans have raised questions about Moskowitz’s stock trades, and Singer repeated those claims directly at the forum, saying Moskowitz had traded stocks hundreds of times worth millions of dollars. Democrats, meanwhile, criticized Singer’s role in a debated Boca Raton redevelopment proposal — the One Boca Government Campus plan, which would have transferred public land to a private developer before it was scaled back to exclude Memorial Park, according to bocaratontribune.com.
Singer used the evening to tout his tenure as Boca Raton’s mayor, saying he was proud of cutting taxes, red tape and crime while helping build a safer, more vibrant city with high-paying jobs. Moskowitz declined WPEC’s request for an on-camera interview after the forum ended.
A Broader Clash That Has Drawn National Money
The Boca Raton gathering is the latest flashpoint in a race that has already attracted outside attention. Moskowitz previously accused Singer of being poised to serve as a rubber stamp for the Trump administration, a charge Singer has denied, while Singer has countered that Moskowitz simply votes however Democratic leadership instructs him, as reported by the Miami Herald. Singer has also said Congress needs what he calls a sane immigration policy, arguing the executive branch must administer existing laws.
President Donald Trump endorsed Singer in the race, according to cbs12.com, which also noted Singer served as Boca Raton’s mayor from 2018 through 2026 after previously sitting on the city council. Moskowitz, first elected to Congress in 2022 to represent Florida’s 23rd District, was shifted into the newly redrawn 25th District under the state’s latest congressional map. He previously served as Florida’s emergency management director, appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, per the same outlet.
A District Stretching From Miami Beach to Boca Raton
Florida’s redrawn 25th Congressional District stretches from parts of Palm Beach County through Broward County into Miami-Dade County, running along the coast from Miami Beach to Delray Beach. CBS News Miami has described the contest as potentially the most expensive congressional race in the nation.
Political forecasters have offered differing reads on just how competitive the seat really is. The Cook Political Report recently moved the race from toss-up to lean-Democrat, according to Florida Politics, which noted Sabato’s Crystal Ball and Fox News had made similar shifts. That outlet reported Moskowitz has maintained his edge despite $14 million in Republican spending since Labor Day, and cited his staunch support for Israel as a potential strength among Jewish voters, who account for roughly a quarter of the district’s electorate and have trended rightward in recent years. Other assessments have painted a tighter picture — flvoicenews.com described the seat as one national handicappers rate as a toss-up.
Moskowitz cleared his primary in August with more than 63% of the vote, while Singer won a five-way Republican primary with 31% support, per Florida Politics. Ballotpedia has flagged the November 3 election as a battleground race, and cbs12.com reported that Trump carried the district’s current boundaries over Kamala Harris in 2024 by 54.2% to 45%.
Next Stop: Miami Beach
Moskowitz and Singer are scheduled to meet again next Tuesday at the Miami Beach JCC, giving voters another chance to size up the two candidates before Election Day. Voters in the district have also raised concerns beyond foreign policy and ethics questions, with the Miami Herald reporting that rising food prices, immigration and gas prices remain top of mind heading into November.
