Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 18 Republican primary)
- Primary date: Aug. 18
- Primary type: Closed
- Registration deadline(s): July 20
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Early voting starts: Aug. 8
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Aug. 18 (received)
- Voter ID: Photo ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
2022 →
← 2018
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| Florida's 19th Congressional District |
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 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 24, 2020 |
| Primary: August 18, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: Francis Rooney (Republican) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Florida |
| Race ratings |
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, 2020 |
| See also |
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Byron Donalds won the Republican Party primary on August 18, 2020 in Florida's 19th Congressional District. Donalds led the field with 23% of the vote, followed by Dane Eagle with 22%, Casey Askar with 20%, and William Figlesthaler with 18%.
Byron Donalds advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 19.
| Candidate filing deadline | Primary election | General election |
|---|---|---|
Heading into the election, the incumbent was Francis Rooney (Republican), who was first elected in 2016.
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Florida utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[1][2]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
This page focuses on Florida's 19th Congressional District Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:
- Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 18 Democratic primary)
- Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2020
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Florida modified its candidate filing procedures as follows:
- Candidate filing procedures: Candidates allowed to submit qualifying documents, including signed petitions, electronically.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and election results
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 19
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)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[3] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Darren Aquino is the founder and CEO of Advocates for Disabled Americans, Veterans, Police, Firemen & Families (ADA VETs), and has advocated for them successfully for over 35 years. Darren is a Puerto-Rican, Italian American, who began advocating for the disabled in 1983. Darren founded this national non-profit in 1999. with a unique concept, all members and volunteers are disabled. This comprehensive network of members and volunteers assist the disabled community with all issues involving lack of societal integration, lack of due process and lack of fair and equal treatment. Darren Aquino has been fighting for individuals for over 35 years, and should he become a Congressman, he will know how to fight for his district. "
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Florida District 19 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "After working my way through college, medical school, and residency as a single father of 3, I moved to Southwest Florida with my children, my debt, and my high aspirations. 25 years ago, I opened a medical practice which would later grow to be one of the largest medical conglomerates in the area. I sold that practice in 2013, and I have been blessed beyond words ever since. I now live in Naples with my 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and my beautiful wife Olga. I've seen firsthand how big government has encroached on every aspect of our lives, and I've decided to do something about it. I'm running for Congress to ensure that my children and grandchildren have the same opportunities to work hard and pursue the American Dream that I did."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Florida District 19 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I'm a street cop, veteran , a family man, I have sworn an oath to protect my fellow Americans against all of the known and unknown dangers in this world. I have always run towards the sound of gunfire, when others are running away. I walk among the people of Southwest Florida day in and day out. I am connected to them at their level. I truly see the struggles along with their highs. This is what makes me a true representative of the people. Public service has been my life story."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Florida District 19 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Christy McLaughlin is a young conservative, Catholic, Latina lawyer. She is a longstanding advocate for Prolife, Second Amendment, low taxes, and strong military. She was born and raised in Naples, Florida, she founded the Republican National Lawyers Association chapter at Ave Maria Law, expanded the Young Republicans of SWFL club to Collier County, and was Program Director for the Mother Frances de Sales Auxiliary for the Homeless organization for five years. She has actively promoted the Republican Party by working on several campaigns in 2016 and working as a Field Organizer for RPOF in 2018. By 24 years old, she has a Florida Teaching certificate, worked on Capitol Hill, worked for the State Attorney's office, and interned for a judge. Christy yearns to represent the Pro-Life movement (Pro-Life is Pro-Woman), Veterans (Veterans have earned a right to quality health care), and students who attend Indoctrination Institutions who need protections for their Constitutional right to Free Speech."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Florida District 19 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: Minnesota House of Representatives (2003-2011)
Submitted Biography: "Dan Severson, Top Gun for Congress Pro-Life, Pro-Veteran and Pro-TRUMP, Dan Severson a warrior statesman is your Republican candidate for US Congress in Florida Congressional District 19, serving Lee and Collier Counties. While retaining his Florida residency for 22 years serving in the U.S. Navy, Dan received his Officer's Commission and Aviator designation in 1980. Dan's training included the prestigious U.S. Naval Fighter Weapons School, making Dan a Top Gun Fighter pilot who flew A-7's and the FA-18 Supersonic Strike-Fighter jet. After a military career of leadership and 320 carrier flight landings, retired Navy Commander Dan Severson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2002. He served 8 years as State Representative, 4 years in executive positions and 2 as Minority Whip where he held back a $3.2 Billion dollar tax increase in a minority position. Dan and his wife of 44 years, Cathy Jo, returned to Florida and settled in Cape Coral in 2015. Experience, Leadership, and Vision are the hallmarks of Dan's life of service to Country and Community. A man of deep faith and personal integrity, Dan is a true Patriot. Pro-Life, Pro-Veteran and Pro-TRUMP... Dan "Doc" Severson: Top Gun for Congress. "
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Florida District 19 in 2020.
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+13, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 13 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Florida's 19th Congressional District the 107th most Republican nationally.[4]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.97. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.97 points toward that party.[5]
Campaign finance
This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[6] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[7] The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Dione Aquino | Republican Party | $126,820 | $84,836 | $41,687 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Casey Askar | Republican Party | $7,259,692 | $7,259,535 | $157 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Byron Donalds | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Dane Eagle | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| William Figlesthaler | Republican Party | $2,800,174 | $2,798,268 | $1,906 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Randy Henderson | Republican Party | $294,116 | $289,093 | $5,024 | As of September 18, 2020 |
| Daniel Kowal | Republican Party | $60,700 | $33,951 | $29,649 | As of September 30, 2020 |
| Christy McLaughlin | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Dan Severson | Republican Party | $142,554 | $142,554 | $0 | As of September 21, 2020 |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. 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." |
|||||
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.[8]
- 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.[9][10][11]
| Race ratings: Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| 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 updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
See also
- Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 18 Democratic primary)
- Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2020
- United States House elections in Florida, 2020 (August 18 Democratic primaries)
- United States House elections in Florida, 2020 (August 18 Republican primaries)
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
- U.S. House battlegrounds, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Closed Primary Election," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
- ↑ 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
