Michael Kroske

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Michael Kroske

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 18, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Lake Charles, La.

Religion

Pentecostal

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Michael Kroske (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 18, 2020.

Kroske completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Michael Korske was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended McNeese University.

Elections

2020

See also: Florida's 23rd Congressional District election, 2020

Florida's 23rd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 18 Republican primary)

Florida's 23rd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 18 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 23

Incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz defeated Carla Spalding, Jeff Olson, and D.B. Fugate in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 23 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)	58.2	221,239
		Carla Spalding (R)	41.8	158,874
		Jeff Olson (R) (Write-in)	0.0	46
		D.B. Fugate (R) (Write-in)	0.0	37

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 380,196
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 23

Incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz defeated Jen Perelman in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 23 on August 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debbie Wasserman Schultz	72.0	55,729
		Jen Perelman	28.0	21,631

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 77,360
= 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 23

Carla Spalding defeated Michael Kroske in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 23 on August 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carla Spalding	51.3	12,751
		Michael Kroske	48.7	12,116

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 24,867
= 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

• Shlomo Nizahon (R)
• Ilya Katz (R)
• Richard Mendelson (R)

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Michael Kroske completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kroske's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Conservative, Republican, Support US Constitution & Bill of Rights. Raised in Louisiana, Married 34 yeqrs, Proud father of 2 grown sons Widowed in 2018, Worked in the heavy equipment and truck business selling to 3rd world and emerging market countries. Customers were the US Government, oil & gas, and mining companies. Traveled to over 40 countries for work.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Bring civility back to the civil service
• Support the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, Best legislation ever written
• Focus on the people in District 23 and share the possibilities and positivity of living in South Florida. Take care of my neighbors and folks in the district

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Civility in our government. Promoting South Florida. Support and defend the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Legal immigration is a must. Protecting all borders from the opioids and other illegal items coming across. Getting all of the young people registered to vote and informed on the issues on the ballots. Help everyone get away from the victim mentality. Protect low interest college loans for students and informed them of the jobs and pay range before they pick their degree of study. Promote a finance class taught in the students junior or senior year. Support the technical schools and understand all kids are not cut out for college. We all need plumbers, welders, electricians, carpenters, and are willing to pay well to get these services done. Bring integrity back to Broward County and take care of the folks.

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

I looked up to my dad. He was a hard worker who took care of his 3 kids and my mother. Air Force veteran. Married for 65 years to the same woman. Quite remarkable. Deceased in 2018. Left my mother financially secure. Involved in the community and local church. Board member for 40 years.

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

The Distinguished Gentleman, Old Eddie Murphy film. Little raw but shows how politics is run and can be changed.

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

Honesty, truthfulness, able to admit they were wrong, kind heart, acceptance of others, take care of the people in their district, don't forget who brought them to the dance.

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

I am a truth teller. I can apologize if warranted. I like people and try not to hurt anyone unless necessary. I will stand up for the hurting. I have a voice.

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

Uphold the Constitution, be truthful and honest. Serving for the people not yourself.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Integrity, honesty, man of the people, available to my district

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

1969 moon landing. I was 10 years old. Small step for man, giant leap for mankind

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

I had a paper route at 13 years old and stayed for approx. 1 year

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible. it covers everything, war, murder, sex, winning, triumph, teachings of Jesus. It has everything you need.

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

Superman of course

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

It is Christmas so various carols are in my head. The song that I relate to and get emotional on is Kane Brown's "Good as You". He seems to be talking about my wife. Also Chris Young's "Who I am with You" is my anthem to my wife.

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

Losing my wife and my father in 2018. Working in a company the lost their way and started some dishonest practices. I left them. Watching people who had it all together lose everything thru addiction, unfaithfulness, or just not standing up for right

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

US House is the protector of the purse strings and the lawmakers in the US.

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

I believe anyone running for a representative must have a good grip on right and wrong also understand they work for the people not the other way around. Previous experience is not required and sometimes it is a detriment as the years pile up in government/politics. I am also a firm believer in term limits.

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

Maintaining our clear line between right and wrong. Staying as the lone super-power in the world. Leading by example to show the world you can speak softly and carry a big stick. As the US goes the world goes. All countries depend on the US to be their beacon of hope.

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

I would like to be on the Foreign Services Committee and various defense related committees. Also on any committee that protects the constitution. Lastly any committee that promotes business in the US and South Florida

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

I think it should be 4 years and election should take place in non-presidential election years

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Support term limits for senate and house

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

I like Senator Kennedy from Louisiana. Direct, sincere, and truthful

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.

See also

2020 Elections

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Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

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External links

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Footnotes

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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)