Ed Pope (Florida)
Ed Pope (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 16th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on August 18, 2026.[source]
Pope completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2026
See also: Florida's 16th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on August 18, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. House Florida District 16
Mark Davis (No Party Affiliation) is running in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 16 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Mark Davis (No Party Affiliation)  | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 16
Jonathan Harris (D), Tamika Lyles (D), Glenn Pearson (D), and Jan Schneider (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 16 on August 18, 2026.
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 16
John Peters (R), Ed Pope (R), and Eddie Speir (R) are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 16 on August 18, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | John Peters | |
 | Ed Pope | |
 | Eddie Speir | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Vern Buchanan (R)
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ed Pope completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pope's responses.
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I am not a career politician. I am a United States Navy veteran, a decorated law enforcement officer, a business executive, and a father who has spent a lifetime serving others. My life has been built on service — from wearing the uniform in the Navy, to protecting our communities through 14 years in law enforcement at the municipal, county, and state levels, to leading complex operations in the private sector.
During my law enforcement career, I became one of the most decorated troopers in Florida Highway Patrol history. I was honored as State Trooper of the Year, Troop F Trooper of the Year twice, Charlotte County Trooper of the Year three times, and Southern Regional International Trooper of the Year, an honor presented in Washington, D.C.
Today I serve as the Chief Operating Officer of a medical logistics company responsible for transporting life-saving medications and critical medical materials.
I hold a Doctorate in Criminal Justice and two Master’s degrees.
I am running for Congress because Florida deserves leadership rooted in service, accountability, and results.- Service, Safety, and Accountability: My first priority is protecting our communities and restoring accountability in government. As a veteran and former law enforcement officer, I understand that public safety, the rule of law, and respect for those who serve are foundational to a strong society. In Congress, I will work to support law enforcement, strengthen national security, and ensure government operates responsibly and transparently for the people it serves.
- Strong Families and a Strong Economy: Families in Florida’s 16th District deserve an economy that works for them—not against them. I will focus on policies that lower the cost of living, support job creation, and encourage responsible growth. With real-world experience leading organizations and managing budgets, my goal is to bring fiscal discipline and common-sense solutions to Washington so families can thrive, not just get by.
- Leadership Rooted in Experience, Not Politics: I am running for Congress to bring practical leadership—not career politics—to public service. I’ve spent my life leading teams, solving problems, and serving others, not chasing headlines. My commitment is to listen to constituents, put Florida first, and deliver results that improve lives today while building a stronger future for the next generation.
I am also passionate about economic policy that promotes job creation, fiscal responsibility, and affordability for families and seniors. Having spent my career in executive leadership, I understand the importance of responsible budgeting, reducing unnecessary regulation, and creating an environment where small businesses can grow and workers can succeed.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
