Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2026
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| Florida's 19th Congressional District |
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| General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 24, 2026 |
| Primary: Pending General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| See also |
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All U.S. House districts, including the 19th Congressional District of Florida, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Florida District 19
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 19 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Howard Sapp (D) | |
 | John Fratto (R) | |
 | Ola Hawatmeh (R) | |
 | Dylan Modarelli (R)  | |
 | Jim Oberweis (R) | |
 | Mike Pedersen (R) | |
 | Jim Schwartzel (R) | |
| ||||
| = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Byron Donalds (R)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "My name is Dylan Modarelli. I’m not a career politician—I’m a citizen who believes in action, accountability, and the power of common sense. I’ve lived simply, worked hard, and seen firsthand what happens when the government forgets the people it’s supposed to serve. I’m running for Congress because I believe in less welfare and more prosperity—because people deserve opportunity, not dependency. I stand for the forgotten: working families, animal lovers, small business owners, and everyone tired of broken promises. We need leaders who live like us, think like us, and fight for us. I’m not here to play politics. I’m here to protect your rights, defend your freedom, and return power to the people. Let’s restore sanity, dignity, and real results to government."
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Mike Pedersen is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (Class of 1979) where he was a 2-time Naval Academy Boxing Champion and was the Outstanding Boxer his senior year. Pedersen went on to serve 20 years as a U. S. Marine Corps Naval Flight Officer (NFO) in the F-4 Phantom and the F/A-18D Hornet. Mike was awarded 3 separate times for valor during Operation Desert Storm as a Forward Air Controller. Pedersen flew a total of 66 combat missions over Kuwait. He is a husband, father, grandfather, and proud 26-year resident of Cape Coral, Florida. Mike is an active member of the community -- coached youth boxing with the Cape Coral Police Department from 2000-2003, has been the Asst Wrestling Coach at Mariner High School from 2003 to present, and was a Naval Academy "Blue & Gold Officer" (Field Admissions Liaison Officer) for 20 years. In Aug 2024, Mike was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Florida Chapter) under the "Outstanding American" category. In May 2025, he was named Volunteer of the Year by the Lee County School District."
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "My name is Jim Schwartzel and my life is rooted in faith, family, and tradition. A lifelong resident of Southwest Florida, I graduated from Bishop Verot High School and married his high school sweetheart, Carly. Together, they’re raising two children—one attending his alma mater, Stetson University, and the other enrolled at Florida SouthWestern State College. Jim is a successful businessman, not a politician, and a conservative firebrand. Jim owns and operates 92.5 FOX News, one of the Nation’s top-rated conservative talk radio stations. Through this powerful platform, he has amplified the voices of patriots, like Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and the late Rush Limbaugh, backed law enforcement and consistently stands against the radical agendas of the progressive Left. Jim is running for Congress to give President Donald J. Trump the support he needs and to fight for the conservative values that make Southwest Florida strong. He’s not a career politician with ambitions for higher office—like President Trump, he’s a straight-talking outsider who’s fed up with the D.C. swamp ignoring real Americans. Jim Schwartzel is a rock-solid conservative, an outsider, and a fighter Southwest Florida can count on to deliver real solutions and be their strong conservative voice in Congress."
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Florida
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
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.
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Dylan Modarelli (R)
“We don’t need more handouts—we need more opportunity. I believe in lifting people up through jobs, education, and entrepreneurship, not keeping them trapped in a cycle of welfare.”
Power Back to the People
“Career politicians have forgotten who they work for. I’m running to return power to the people—by cutting waste, ending corruption, and making government work for you, not for lobbyists and insiders.”
Protect the Voiceless—Humans and Animals
Mike Pedersen (R)
My 20 years of Marine Corps service included various leadership positions in aviation, operations, security, intelligence, and logistics. I was a graduate of the Navy's "TOP GUN" Fighter Weapons School in Dec 1983. From '92-'94, I was the Executive Officer (2nd in Command) of 250 Marines with 1st ANGLICO (Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) at Camp Pendleton, CA. In that position, I logged 40 static-line parachute jumps.
My platform is solid CONSERVATIVE with focus on: USA First, Powerful Modern and Potent Military second to none, Debt Reduction, Secure Borders, Secure Elections, Protect the 2nd Amendment, Protect the Unborn, and Protect & Develop our Youth.
Jim Schwartzel (R)
- The DC Swamp has lied to Americans for decades. They’ve wasted our tax dollars, sent our jobs overseas, and sold out America to the highest bidder.
- Washington politicians have never had to balance a budget, meet a payroll, or deal with the burdens of overregulation—they spend your money and ask for more.
- As a businessman, I know you can't run a successful business like Washington runs our country—with endless debt, reckless spending, and zero accountability.
- I will fight to drain the swamp by putting America First—not China, not Ukraine, not the corrupt Washington elite.
Border Security, Law and Order & Strong Foreign Policy
- No nation can survive without borders—I will support Trump’s policies to secure the border, deport illegal immigrants, and finish the wall.
- Crime is skyrocketing because soft-on-crime liberals refuse to enforce the law—I will stand with law enforcement and back the blue.
- We need law and order, not woke prosecutors letting criminals run free.
- Biden's foreign policy was weak, and the world knew—that’s why China, Russia, and Iran were getting bolder. I support Trump in building the strongest military in the world.
- No more endless wars—I will make sure our troops are defended, not deployed to fight pointless wars that benefit no one but the Washington war machine.
America First Economy—Bring Back Jobs, End Foreign Dependence
- We don’t need more government programs—we need more good-paying jobs right here in Florida.
- I will fight for Trump-style tax cuts that reward hard work and keep businesses in America.
- Made in America should mean something again—I will stand with American workers.
- Under Trump, America was energy independent—under Biden, we’re begging dictators, radical Islamics and communists for oil.
- I will fight to restore American energy dominance, so we never have to depend on hostile nations for oil and gas.
- Lower energy costs mean lower prices for everything- I will make sure Florida families aren’t crushed by skyrocketing fuel prices.
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Mike Pedersen (R)
Jim Schwartzel (R)
I will cut funding to schools that push gender ideology and leftist propaganda and support parents' right to choose the best schools for their children.
I will support our Veterans; I am dedicated to ensuring they receive the healthcare, employment opportunities, and respect they've earned.
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
First, the Bible. Whether you’re religious or not, the values in there — personal responsibility, compassion for the poor, respect for life, freedom, justice — they shaped how I see the world. “You reap what you sow.” That’s not just spiritual; that’s how life works.
Second, “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. You don’t have to agree with every part of it to see the message: when government punishes hard work and rewards dependency, society falls apart. That book reminded me that freedom and productivity go hand in hand.
Third, “The Pursuit of Happyness” with Will Smith. It’s not a political film, but it’s about grit. It’s about not giving up, no matter how hard life gets. That’s the America I believe in — where anyone, even someone sleeping in a subway bathroom, can rise up with enough determination.
And finally, real life. I’ve seen what it’s like to live outside the system, to struggle, to survive. No book can teach you what living simply and seeing people struggle to get ahead teaches you. That’s where my philosophy comes from — the real world, not the ivory tower.
I believe in freedom, fairness, and fighting for those who’ve been forgotten. If that sounds like something you believe in too, then I’m your candidate.
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Integrity comes first. If you’re not honest, you’ve got no business holding office. I believe in saying what I mean, doing what I say, and owning up when I fall short. The public deserves the truth — even when it’s not easy.
Accountability matters. If I make a promise, I’ll keep it — or I’ll explain why I didn’t. Too many politicians disappear after election day. That’s not me. I’ll be visible, reachable, and responsible to the people who put me there.
Common sense should guide policy. I believe in real-world solutions, not political games. If it doesn’t work in real life, it doesn’t belong in law. I trust regular people to make good choices when government gets out of the way and focuses on doing its actual job.
Compassion isn’t weakness. You can fight for freedom and still care deeply for others — especially the most vulnerable. That includes the working poor, struggling families, and animals who can’t speak for themselves. A good leader has a strong back and a soft heart.
And finally — humility.
I don’t think I have all the answers. I believe in listening, learning, and growing. Leadership isn’t about ego; it’s about service. I’m not running to be someone — I’m running to do something.
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
First and foremost, I believe in protecting your rights. Our Constitution isn’t just a document — it’s a promise. I’ll defend your freedom of speech, your right to self-defense, your right to live without government overreach, and your right to be left alone when you’re not hurting anyone.
Second, it’s about solving real problems. The job is to pass laws that actually make life better — safer communities, stronger schools, good-paying jobs, affordable living. That takes common sense, not partisan games or corporate loyalty.
Third, I believe in staying connected to the people. Too many politicians forget where they came from. I won’t. I’ll be visible, accessible, and accountable — holding town halls, answering calls, and staying grounded in the lives of the people I represent.
And finally, I believe in being a good steward of taxpayer money.
You work hard for what you earn. I’ll treat every dollar the government spends like it came out of my own pocket — because it did come out of yours. No waste, no nonsense. This isn’t about building a career in politics. It’s about doing the job right — and then stepping aside when it’s time for someone else to take the torch.
Dylan Modarelli (R)
If I can help restore trust in government, give a voice to the forgotten, and inspire others to lead with integrity, that’s a legacy I’ll be proud of.
I don’t want a statue — I want a stronger country.
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Mike Pedersen (R)
Jim Schwartzel (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Jim Schwartzel (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
This power should serve truth, transparency, and justice — not headlines or vendettas. As a Representative, I’d support investigations that protect your rights, your tax dollars, and your trust in government.
The goal isn’t drama — it’s accountability.
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
Mike Pedersen (R)
Dylan Modarelli (R)
If elected, I’ll fight for full audits of government agencies, strict limits on lobbyist influence, and public access to how your tax dollars are used. I’ll lead by example and make my own finances transparent.
I support term limits, cutting waste, and removing politicians who stop serving the people. No more hiding. No more excuses.
If the people pay for it, they deserve to see it. Period.
Mike Pedersen (R)
Jim Schwartzel (R)
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Sapp | Democratic Party | $8,323 | $7,498 | $825 | As of June 30, 2025 |
| John Fratto | Republican Party | $0 | $364 | $175 | As of June 30, 2025 |
| Ola Hawatmeh | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Dylan Modarelli | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Jim Oberweis | Republican Party | $2,118,475 | $189,286 | $1,929,189 | As of June 30, 2025 |
| Mike Pedersen | Republican Party | $14,562 | $3,761 | $10,801 | As of June 30, 2025 |
| Jim Schwartzel | Republican Party | $1,212,767 | $30,660 | $1,182,107 | As of June 30, 2025 |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]
| Race ratings: Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| 9/2/2025 | 8/26/2025 | 8/19/2025 | 8/12/2025 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. | |||||||||
Ballot access
This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
2024
See also: Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2024
Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Republican primary)
Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 19
Incumbent Byron Donalds defeated Kari Lerner in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 19 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Byron Donalds (R) | 66.3 | 275,708 |
 | Kari Lerner (D) | 33.7 | 140,038 | |
| Total votes: 415,746 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Kari Lerner advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 19.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Byron Donalds advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 19.
2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 19
Incumbent Byron Donalds defeated Cindy Banyai and Patrick Post in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 19 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Byron Donalds (R) | 68.0 | 213,035 |
 | Cindy Banyai (D) | 32.0 | 100,226 | |
 | Patrick Post (No Party Affiliation) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 13 | |
| Total votes: 313,274 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Cindy Banyai advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 19.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 19
Incumbent Byron Donalds defeated Jim Huff in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 19 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Byron Donalds | 83.7 | 76,192 |
 | Jim Huff | 16.3 | 14,795 | |
| Total votes: 90,987 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 19
Byron Donalds defeated Cindy Banyai and Patrick Post in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 19 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Byron Donalds (R) | 61.3 | 272,440 |
| Cindy Banyai (D) | 38.7 | 172,146 | |
| Patrick Post (D) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 3 | |
| Total votes: 444,589 | |||
| = 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
- Antonio Dumornay (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 19
Cindy Banyai defeated David Holden in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 19 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Banyai | 57.6 | 28,765 |
 | David Holden | 42.4 | 21,212 | |
| Total votes: 49,977 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 19
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 19 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Byron Donalds | 22.6 | 23,492 |
 | Dane Eagle | 21.9 | 22,715 | |
 | Casey Askar | 20.0 | 20,774 | |
 | William Figlesthaler | 18.3 | 19,075 | |
 | Randy Henderson | 7.6 | 7,858 | |
 | Christy McLaughlin | 4.1 | 4,245 | |
 | Dan Severson | 3.1 | 3,197 | |
 | Darren Dione Aquino | 1.4 | 1,466 | |
 | Daniel Kowal | 1.1 | 1,135 | |
| Total votes: 103,957 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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
- Francis Rooney (R)
- Ford O’Connell (R)
- Heather Fitzenhagen (R)
District analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.
See also
| Florida | 2026 primaries | 2026 U.S. Congress elections |
|---|---|---|
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Voting in Florida Florida elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries |
U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
