When incumbent State Representative Maria Sachs opted to run for the Florida Senate rather than seek re-election, Berman ran to succeed her in the Democratic primary in the 86th District, which stretched from Hypoluxo to Boca Raton in eastern Palm Beach County.

She won the nomination of her party unopposed, and in the general election, faced Republican nominee Sean Michael Kasper.

The Palm Beach Post endorsed Berman for re-election, praising her for having "an impact in a GOP-dominated legislature," despite adhering "too much to liberal party doctrine.

"[1] The South Florida Sun-Sentinel concurred, criticizing Kasper for "his lack of understanding...the issues facing lawmakers and the basics of...the legislative process," but endorsing Berman for her "decent record of representing county residents in Tallahassee.

[5] In 2017, State Senator Jeff Clemens resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair with a lobbyist, creating a vacancy in his central Palm Beach County district.