Kari Lerner (Florida)
Kari Lerner (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 19th Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Lerner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Kari Lerner was born in Troy, Ohio. She earned an associate degree from Edison Community College in 1993 and a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2006. Her career experience includes working in real estate and sales and as a substitute teacher. As of 2024, Lerner was affiliated with the League of Women Voters.[1]
Elections
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 | ||||
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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.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Lerner in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Video for Ballotpedia
Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released January 25, 2024 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kari Lerner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lerner's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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|As a Cypress Lake High School Panther in Fort Myers, I was deeply involved in various activities, including National Honor Society, cotillion, cheerleading, band, senior class treasurer, & even initiated a Football Pep Club.
I earned an AS degree in Business Administration from Edison Community College, managing my studies while working three jobs as a single mother. I later went on to graduate Summa cum Laude with a BS in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
I am a Realtor with 37 years of industry experience, and am currently licensed in FL, NH, and MA.
I served as a State Representative for NH Rockingham District 4, marking only the second time a Democrat had represented this traditionally Republican district in 120 years.
I offer responsible, competent leadership while fighting for the freedoms that matter with transparency & integrity. This is my home, & I am here to serve.- Unity among diversity has always been our greatest strength. As Americans we must be able to disagree yet work together toward solutions. Today's divisiveness weakens our nation as our allies & our enemies watch the relentless bickering that has paralyzed Congress, with my opponent as a major instigator. I believe in collaboration without calling colleagues names to serve your district. All are created equal with those inalienable rights of life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness that must be protected & preserved, along with the peaceful transfer of power that has served this nation well for nearly 250 years.
- A member of Congress is elected to serve as your liaison to the federal government, not for them to use the position as a steppingstone to the next career move. I am running for Congress to serve the people of SWFL. As a legislator with a record of getting things done, I will make it a priority to get Ian disaster relief SWFL has been promised for over a year passed into law, not just filed. I will be focused on bringing home the resources needed to build resilience into the infrastructure of SWFL to protect all & lower risk to bring down insurance costs. As a tireless negotiator, I will deliver resources to address affordable housing, clean water, & infrastructure needs. And I pledge to fight to protect your Social Security.
- Most importantly, I believe that states should have certain powers of legislation. But as Americans, we MUST have an umbrella of individual rights that cannot be violated. Access to the full range of healthcare options, including reproductive choices, healthcare directives, & contraception. needs to be codified into federal law. Freedoms of speech, religion, & a free press are essential to a free society & the security of our nation. These freedoms are being threatened by extremists like my opponent who believe in dictating to the electorate how to live, whom to love, how to worship, when & how you have a family and what that family must look like. I trust & believe in the individual.
Affordable Housing: I'm deeply committed to affordable housing as a fundamental need that affects the quality of life and economic stability of our communities.
Integrity
Integrity refers to the moral quality of the governance process, which is crucial for the legitimacy and credibility of public power. It involves exercising political power consistently in the public interest, independently of private interests, and not using power to maintain one's wealth and position.
Transparency
Transparency is about how an election office or elected official conducts their business. It involves clear communication and the provision of information to candidates and voters, ensuring that all election business is transparent, whether it is ballot design or the procuring of voting systems.
Competence
Competence involves the ability to effectively lead and manage the responsibilities of the office. It includes the ability to put people at ease, resourcefulness, straightforwardness, composure, and the ability to build and mend relationships.
The most important characteristics or principles for an elected official, include integrity, transparency, competence, fairness, and independence. These principles are essential for maintaining the trust of the electorate and ensuring that the democratic process is upheld.
Fairness
Fairness in the context of elections means treating every party, candidate, voter, and participant in the election process equitably. It involves good communication to mitigate potential issues of unfairness and reaching out to stakeholders before making decisions.
Independence
Independence includes avoiding conflicts of interest & treating all parties fairly by adhering to the law. It is essential for election administrators and elected officials to maintain independence to ensure that decisions affecting contributors are made impartially. The loyalty must be to the electorate, not any one individual.
"Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common that unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Constituent Outreach: It's crucial to engage with those I serve. This means answering their questions and concerns, and also reaching out to understand what they need and think. By helping with issues related to federal agencies and explaining the impact of laws, I create a valuable feedback loop that guides my work in Congress.
Legislative Priorities: It's important to identify and focus on the major issues facing my constituents and the country. I put effort into writing, supporting, or changing laws to tackle these issues. My goal is to work on policies that protect individual liberty, protect voting rights, reduce economic inequality, and improve public services, aiming for the well-being and success of all Americans.
I spoke with a veteran who has struggled to recover from hurricane Ian as he is bounced from one agency to another without answers from his congressman almost 2 years later.
I think of the seniors who are terrified that their Social Security is at risk. Many seniors paid into private pensions that disappeared for a variety of reasons, Social Security is their entire source of income. These people struggle to stay in their homes with Social Security, without it they have nowhere to go.
I think of the college students who plan to leave the state because they are fearful that they may not be able to access the healthcare they need. If my opponent has his way, they may need to leave the country for lifesaving care.
I remember the OB/GYN who lives in constant fear of prosecution. She has taken an oath to do no harm yet is prohibited from offering needed procedures to her patients.
I think of the elderly gentleman who was despondent because his granddaughter would not visit him this year because she was pregnant & feared she would not be able to get care in the event of an emergency.
I think of how many individuals have approached me when I attended LGBTQ+ events in tears, thanking me for openly standing with them.
I think of the voters in the various Hispanic communities who have been mercilessly harassed, regardless of their status.
I think of the rage of the Black community at the attempted erasing of their history.
Compromise allows lawmakers to sort out disagreements and move forward with laws that take into account different viewpoints. It's all about giving a little here and taking a little there, which is crucial for breaking deadlocks and making real progress on important issues. In today's politically divided environment, the ability to compromise is even more critical for getting things done. Adopting a compromise-friendly approach helps ensure governance works for everyone, not just a few. We cannot allow perfect to be the enemy of the good.
Research on what people think shows that voters from all political backgrounds value respect and a readiness to compromise. They expect this not just from the other side but from all politicians. Being able to compromise is not a sign of giving up on your values or a weakness; it actually shows strength, maturity, and a dedication to the greater good.
U.S. Representatives are elected to serve The People, to make fiscal decisions that are for the good of The People. I will not support any budget measures that place the burden of our national debt or budget needs on working Americans. Nor will I support a budget that will decimate programs for citizens who are already struggling to support their families with dignity.
In my campaign, I prioritize transparency in our finances, making it clear who contributes and how funds are utilized. This approach is crucial to prevent undue influence and ensure our political process remains fair and democratic. Organizations advocating for transparent campaign finance, like Common Cause and the Campaign Legal Center, highlight the importance of disclosing financial sources to combat corruption and uphold the integrity of elections.
Similarly, in government, financial transparency is vital. It allows citizens to see how their taxes are used, promoting efficiency and reducing waste. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) and initiatives like the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT) work tirelessly to enhance fiscal transparency, demonstrating its role in improving governance.
Transparency extends beyond financial disclosures to include political spending and lobbying activities. Agencies like the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) ensure that public officials and candidates disclose their financial interests, to safeguard against conflicts of interest.
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 website
Lerner’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
January 6th and Democracy
When I served as a New Hampshire State Representative, I co-sponsored a bill protecting children that passed with one of the highest bipartisan votes of that session.
Southwest Florida's Environmental Water Crisis |
” |
—Kari Lerner’s campaign website (2024)[3] |
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
2024 Elections
External links
Candidate U.S. House Florida District 19 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 14, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kari Lerner’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed July 24, 2024