James Pruden (Florida)

James Pruden (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 23rd Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on August 23, 2022.

Pruden completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

James Pruden was born in Tucson, Arizona. He earned a bachelor's degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1992, a master's degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1994, and a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center in 1997.^[1] His career experience includes working as a business attorney and working in the technology industry, executive management, strategic planning, manufacturing, research and development, and engineering. He has been affiliated with the Florida Bar, the Republican Party of Broward County, the Coral Springs-Parkland Republican Club, and the Boca Raton Republican Club.^[2]^[3]

Elections

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 23

Jared Evan Moskowitz defeated Joe Budd, Christine Scott, and Mark Napier in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 23 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jared Evan Moskowitz (D)	51.6	143,951
	Joe Budd (R)	46.8	130,681
	Christine Scott (No Party Affiliation)	1.1	3,079
	Mark Napier (No Party Affiliation)	0.5	1,338

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 279,049
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 23

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 23 on August 23, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jared Evan Moskowitz	61.1	38,822
	Ben Sorensen	20.5	13,012
	Hava Holzhauer	8.3	5,276
	Allen Ellison	6.2	3,960
	W. Michael Trout	2.2	1,390
	Michaelangelo Hamilton	1.7	1,064

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 63,524
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 23

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 23 on August 23, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Joe Budd	37.6	12,592
	James Pruden	22.1	7,399
	Darlene Cerezo Swaffar	11.6	3,872
	Christy McLaughlin	11.4	3,832
	Steve Chess	8.5	2,840
	Ira Weinstein	6.9	2,297
	Myles Perrone	1.9	639

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 33,471
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Jeff Olson (R)
Saad Suleman (R)

Endorsements

To view Pruden's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2020

Florida's 22nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 18 Republican primary)

Florida's 22nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 18 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 22

Incumbent Theodore E. Deutch defeated James Pruden in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 22 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Theodore E. Deutch (D)	58.6	235,764
	James Pruden (R)	41.4	166,553

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 402,317
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Lisa Marmorato (Unaffiliated)
Omar Reyes (Independent)

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Theodore E. Deutch advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 22.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Imtiaz Mohammad (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 22

James Pruden defeated Jessi Melton, Fran Flynn, and Darlene Cerezo Swaffar in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 22 on August 18, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	James Pruden	35.6	11,840
	Jessi Melton	30.0	9,969
	Fran Flynn	26.1	8,667
	Darlene Cerezo Swaffar	8.3	2,763

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 33,239
= 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

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

James Pruden completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pruden's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I will support legislation that fosters inter-economic class advancement, preservation of free choice, and personal achievement and growth of the middle class consistent with the capitalist values established by our country's founders. I will also oppose the socialist movement which would produce ever increasing control by government, loss of personal choice, penalties for achievement and substantially reduced standards of living.
I support having the U.S. being a world leader in advancing rational environmental reforms that in part include meaningful reforms adopted by the world's largest polluters such as China. I support an "America First" policy and securing the border, outlawing sanctuary cities, enacting a zero tolerance policy on illegal border crossings, and enacting an immigration plan that would continue the spirit of accepting those seeking bona fide political refuge, providing for entry based upon merit, and authorizing entry only after extensive and appropriate screening. We are at a time when lawlessness is rampant in the streets and local governments and law enforcement are unable (or unwilling) to ensure the safety and security of the population; as such, I will support programs to address open violence and restore order. I support the return of manufacturing and eliminating foreign control and influence over American's business,

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Ronald Reagan. He was the most influential voice of modern conservatism during my life time.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Representing the best interests of your own constituents and the country without influence for special interests that donate to you from outside of your district.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

In addition to having a Masters Degree in Business and Juris Doctor Degree, my professional experience includes an aggregate of more than 45 years in technology, business and law where I learned to manage budgets, think critically and methodically plan for the future. I also grew up with a disposition for service to my community, and a sense of equity and fair treatment of others. Specifically, I grew up on a cattle farm in southern Maryland where my parents raised me to be diligent, hardworking and honest. While working full time in Maryland, I also volunteered as a first responder at nights and weekends where I learned the virtues of compassion and desire to serve others in need.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to be known as a fair and honest individual who served the community in both his professional life and as a statesman that gave new meaning to the notion of one being a servant of the community.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was living in the Washington DC area during the Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962. I was 8 years old at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked for the IBM Corporation for 16 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Federalist Papers. It is the single most authoritative document that expresses the founders' intent in the various provisions crafted for the U.S. Constitution.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I have no desire to be, or emulate, a fictional character.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Coming to America

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Having enough time to accomplish as many experiences and tasks I would like to accomplish in a lifetime.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Unlike other societies, our Congress introduces bills so as to make laws such as immigration, and regulate matters such as coining of money and the postal system, to name a few. It also has budgetary responsibility with the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, as well as to pay the debts of the country and provide for the common defense and general Welfare of the United States. That includes to the power to declare war. Another important role of the House is to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes. It also has oversight on investigations with the power to impeach federal officers for trial by the Senate.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

That is one area that would be beneficial; however, in the absence of such experience, a candidate should be educated and experienced in business, finance and law.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

1. Communist China's corrupt influence on our elected leaders, media and businesses as well as the Marxist style socialist movement to "reset capitalism" which I reject and will protect, preserve and defend our American capitalist system which has produced the greatest sustained economic prosperity in the history of the world.

2. The mounting national debt is one of the other most significant threats to the safety and security of the U.S. in the relatively near term.
3. Addressing the many years of degradation of our country's manufacturing prowess, increased foreign control and influence over American's business as well as foreign control over certain critical and strategic resources.
4. The Affordable Care Act is seriously flawed as it failed to achieve any of the main objectives advertised to the country. It did not cover everyone, failed to reduce costs, caused the loss of doctors and insurance programs and virtually rendered the middle class uninsured when considering the premium cost and deductibles, and substantially reduced the standard of living of middle and lower middle class citizens.
5. Aside from the significant security exposure to America associated with illegal crossings, unlawful immigrant households impose a financial burden on the U.S. equal to what would be the cost of feeding, clothing, housing and providing all necessaries for virtually every one of the 554,000 homeless Americans. We need to secure our borders and finally enact a sound immigration plan.

6. The need for meaningful environmental reforms adopted by the world's largest polluters. In the past, the largest polluters with the largest carbon footprint, such as China, were not required to conform to meaningful changes, while other countries, like the U.S., were expected to adopt significant changes supported by sanctions that would have an inequitable economic impact, such as from the proposed Cap and Trade legislation.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

The foreign affairs committee, the budget committee or Judiciary Committee. In the absence of serving on either of those committees, I would like to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

N/A

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes; however, I support term limits of not more than 3 terms (for a total of 6 years)

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits of not more than 3 terms (for a total of 6 years)

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Yes, Jim Jordan

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I communicated with many residents in my district during the quarantine and assisted them in understanding the various benefits of the CARES Act, how to qualify and how to apply for them. I was struck with the stories of how so many were unable to receive benefits (particularly the PPP) because of the exhausted benefits, while at the same time seeing that many government pork programs got funding and the Democrat's refusal and delay to supplement the funding so as to help the small businesses. While they were playing politics, I spoke with small business owners that told me that they cried themselves to sleep. This event really drove home the realization that partisanship is an insidious plague on our country.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Really?

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is essential for policy making; provided however, any such compromise does not include discussions on transforming America away from Constitutional mandates and guarantees and the free market capitalist structure established by our founders. In other words, a transformation to a Marxist style society is a non-negotiable.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

The taxing and spending policies of our government are one of the most important priorities in front of us given that the mounting national debt is one of the most significant threats to the safety and security of the U.S. in the relatively near term. These policies must stabilize our economic health as well as foster inter-economic class advancement, preserve free choice and personal achievement and growth of the middle class in a manner that is consistent with the capitalist values established by our country's founders.

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.

Pruden submitted the following additional survey answers to Ballotpedia on January 24, 2022.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

"Article I of the US Constitution enumerates the power and role of Congress. They include introducing bills so as to make laws such as immigration, and regulating matters such as coining of money and the postal system, to name a few. It also has budgetary responsibility with the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, as well as to pay the debts of the country and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. That includes to the power to declare war. Another important role of the House is to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes. It also has oversight on investigations with the power to impeach federal officers for trial by the Senate."

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"The Federalist Papers. It is the single most authoritative document that expresses the founders' intent in the various provisions crafted for the U.S. Constitution. Also the Road to Serfdom, by Frederic Hayek"

2020

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

U.S. House Florida District 23

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 24, 2022
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 19, 2020
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 12, 2021

[show]

Florida's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Ashley Moody (R)

Rick Scott (R)

Representatives

District 1

Jimmy Patronis (R)

District 2

Neal Dunn (R)

District 3

Kat Cammack (R)

District 4

Aaron Bean (R)

District 5

John Rutherford (R)

District 6

Randy Fine (R)

District 7

Cory Mills (R)

District 8

Mike Haridopolos (R)

District 9

Darren Soto (D)

District 10

Maxwell Frost (D)

District 11

Daniel Webster (R)

District 12

Gus Bilirakis (R)

District 13

Anna Luna (R)

District 14

Kathy Castor (D)

District 15

Laurel Lee (R)

District 16

Vern Buchanan (R)

District 17

Greg Steube (R)

District 18

Scott Franklin (R)

District 19

Byron Donalds (R)

District 20

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D)

District 21

Brian Mast (R)

District 22

Lois Frankel (D)

District 23

Jared Moskowitz (D)

District 24

Frederica Wilson (D)

District 25

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)

District 26

Mario Diaz-Balart (R)

District 27

Maria Elvira Salazar (R)

District 28

Carlos Gimenez (R)

Republican Party (22)

Democratic Party (8)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 24, 2022

[bio2-2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 19, 2020

[bio3-3] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 12, 2021

[1]

[2]

[3]

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James Pruden (Florida)

Contents

Biography

Elections

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 23

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 23

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 23

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 22

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 22

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

2020

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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