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Representative in Congress, District 19

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Jim Schwartzel

Victor Arias

4 candidates. Listed as they appear on the ballot.

Jim Schwartzel

Victor Arias

Jim Schwartzel

Victor Arias

Seth Haskin

Alexandra Zakhvatayev

Position on major issues

Photo of Jim Schwartzel

Jim Schwartzel

Jim Schwartzel is a politician and media executive running for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Florida's 19th Congressional District. Schwartzel’s primary victory drew significant national and state attention because he defeated Catalina Lauf, who was heavily endorsed by Donald Trump just prior to the vote, as well as several other prominent self-funded candidates. Following his primary victory, Trump extended his "complete and total" endorsement to Schwartzel on September 2, 2026. Professionally, Schwartzel is a Southwest Florida native, a Bishop Verot High School graduate, and a local media executive who serves as president of Sun Broadcasting and as owner/operator of 92.5 FOX News Radio and Gulfshore Life Media.

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4 candidates. Listed as they appear on the ballot.

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Common Ground

Common Ground shows where candidates agree, no matter their party.

Thinking for yourself matters

Position on major issues

Position on major issues

Position on major issues

Position on major issues

Abortion and reproductive policy

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Agriculture and rural policy

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Artificial intelligence

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Civil rights and freedoms

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Our governance is built on the principle that no one is above the law. I will enforce existing statutes with integrity and protect the rights of every citizen with no bias towards any set group or class.

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Criminal justice and policing

In Washington, Jim will work to secure the border and stop illegal immigration, stand firmly with law enforcement and first responders, and defend free speech from the growing threat of censorship by Big Tech.

Jim Schwartzel is proud to support President Donald J. Trump and the America First agenda. Read full quote

Advocate for criminal justice reform that keeps communities safe while ensuring fairness.

Our governance is built on the principle that no one is above the law. I will enforce existing statutes with integrity and protect the rights of every citizen with no bias towards any set group or class.

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Economy, jobs and wages

Jim will protect our economy by opposing wasteful government spending and fighting against the socialist policies that are weakening our nation.

As a successful businessman, Jim knows what it takes to grow an economy and create jobs. Read full quote

Support small businesses with access to capital, reduced regulatory burden, and workforce training programs tailored to SWFL industries.

Lower grocery prices and cost of living by addressing supply chain bottlenecks and corporate price gouging.

Lowering grocery prices, advocating against corporate price gouging, and creating affordable housing so SWFL workers can live where they work.

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Reducing Regulatory Overreach: Work to simplify and limit the scope of federal regulation where it exceeds constitutional boundaries or creates unnecessary burdens on citizens and small businesses.

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Education

Jim believes in protecting traditional family values and preserving the innocence of our children. Read full quote

Ensure every family in FL-19 has access to quality public education and after-school programs.

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Elections and voting

He will also fight for term limits to end the ruling class of career politicians who are more beholden to special interests than the people they were elected to serve.

Washington is broken thanks to career politicians who care more about protecting their power than serving the people. Jim supports term limits for members of Congress because it’s time to break up the ruling class and return power to the people. Public office should be about service, not self-preservation.

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I support repealing the 17th Amendment and restoring the selection of U.S. senators by state legislatures.

I support expanding the House by 100–200 members and pursuing a constitutional amendment requiring Congress to reconsider representation after every census.

Strengthening Representation: Support reforms that improve the connection between citizens and their representatives and ensure that the House remains responsive to population and community realities.

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Energy

Jim Schwartzel is proud to support President Donald J. Trump and the America First agenda. Read full quote

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Environment and climate

Our water isn’t just important to our economy—it’s part of who we are. Read full quote

He’ll fight back against outside political interest groups that threaten our environment, suppress free speech, and drive up healthcare costs.

He's running to fight for federal investment in water quality at the source, not just cleanup after the damage is done.

Our environment is our economy. In Southwest Florida, clean water isn't just an environmental issue — it's an economic lifeline. Red tide events cost our region $164 million or more per event in lost tourism revenue, shuttered businesses, and declining property values.

He isn't a career politician. He's running to cut the red tape for veterans, protect Medicare for seniors, and defend the water quality that drives our economy.

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Families and social services

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Firearms policy

Jim believes our rights come from God, not government. Read full quote

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Government reform

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Work with members of both parties to pass legislation that directly benefits Southwest Florida.

True freedom means you lead. We will ensure laws are simple and government is open so every citizen can participate in our democracy with confidence and understanding.

Congress should write the laws, the President should execute them, and elected representatives should answer to the people for the decisions they make.

I am running to restore limited, enumerated government, return power to the people and the states, and rebuild a Congress that remembers its proper place.

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Healthcare

He’ll fight back against outside political interest groups that threaten our environment, suppress free speech, and drive up healthcare costs.

Expanding Medicare drug price negotiation, capping out-of-pocket prescription costs, and ending surprise medical billing for our seniors.

Healthcare isn't a privilege, it's a right. Our seniors and families shouldn't have to choose between medicine and another necessity.

Slashing VA red tape, expanding healthcare access, and ensuring 60,000+ FL-19 veterans receive the benefits they earned through service.

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Housing

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Support affordable housing initiatives so workers in our hospitality and service industries can live where they work.

Lowering grocery prices, advocating against corporate price gouging, and creating affordable housing so SWFL workers can live where they work.

Protect SWFL families from rising costs of living by fighting for affordable housing and fair wages.

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Immigration

America must have strong borders. Read full quote

With President Trump, we'll cut wasteful spending, grow our economy, finish the wall, and deport illegal immigrants.

In Washington, Jim will work to secure the border and stop illegal immigration, stand firmly with law enforcement and first responders, and defend free speech from the growing threat of censorship by Big Tech.

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Infrastructure and transportation

Anyone who drives in Southwest Florida knows our roads and infrastructure is in serious need of investment and improvement. Read full quote

Invest in infrastructure that connects our communities — from roads and bridges to broadband and public transit.

Prioritize infrastructure investment — roads, bridges, flood protection, and broadband for FL-19.

Working across the aisle to pass infrastructure funding for roads, bridges, broadband, and hurricane disaster preparedness for FL-19.

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Local control

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I am running to restore limited, enumerated government, return power to the people and the states, and rebuild a Congress that remembers its proper place.

The people would elect their representatives in the House and their state legislators, while those legislators would select senators charged with defending their state's interests in the federal government.

The House should represent the people. The Senate should represent the states. Together, they should check centralized power.

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National security and foreign policy

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I will work to restore Congress's constitutional authority over war, reduce unnecessary overseas military commitments, oppose regime-change wars, and demand clear congressional authorization before committing Americans to hostilities.

America should maintain the strength necessary to defend itself while pursuing peaceful relations with other nations. We should send ambassadors to build relationships abroad rather than treating permanent military presence as the foundation of American diplomacy.

Increasing Government Accountability: Support measures that increase transparency across all branches of government and reduce institutional insulation from public oversight.

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Social Security and retirement

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In FL-19, 45% of residents are over 55. Many are seniors who moved to Southwest Florida for the sunshine — but they're being squeezed by rising healthcare costs, prescription drug prices, and threats to the Medicare they paid into through a lifetime of work.

Our seniors deserve better. They paid into Medicare their entire working lives. And they deserve to enjoy it, not fear for it — not gutted, not auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Victor's Commitments Protect Medicare and Medicaid — oppose any efforts to cut benefits or increase the eligibility age. Read full quote

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Taxes and government spending

He believes in local solutions—not federal mandates—and supports community-based charities and the arts in ways that don’t burden taxpayers.

With President Trump, we'll cut wasteful spending, grow our economy, finish the wall, and deport illegal immigrants.

Jim will protect our economy by opposing wasteful government spending and fighting against the socialist policies that are weakening our nation.

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Fight for federal disaster preparedness and recovery funding for our hurricane-prone coast.

Victor's Commitments Fight for full federal funding of Everglades restoration and Lake Okeechobee discharge reform. Support research funding to combat red tide and protect our $3.2 billion tourism economy.

I support moving toward a dollar backed by tangible monetary assets—including gold, silver, platinum, and copper to impose discipline and protect purchasing power.

I support repealing the 16th Amendment and ending the federal income tax. Americans should keep more of what they earn while Washington learns to operate within constitutional and sustainable financial limits.

I will work to restore congressional responsibility over money, move toward a metal-backed dollar, restrain federal spending and borrowing, confront the national debt, and repeal the 16th Amendment.

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Technology and privacy

In Washington, Jim will work to secure the border and stop illegal immigration, stand firmly with law enforcement and first responders, and defend free speech from the growing threat of censorship by Big Tech.

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I will work to repeal the remaining unconstitutional surveillance authorities associated with the Patriot Act, strengthen warrant requirements, protect Americans' digital information, and oppose government attempts to circumvent the Fourth Amendment through new technologies or third-party data.

I oppose indiscriminate surveillance and bulk collection of Americans' information and support repealing laws that enable unconstitutional searches or evade meaningful judicial oversight.

Emails, communications, location information, financial records, and personal data deserve meaningful Fourth Amendment protection rather than becoming an easy pathway for warrantless government surveillance.

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Veterans

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Slashing VA red tape, expanding healthcare access, and ensuring 60,000+ FL-19 veterans receive the benefits they earned through service.

Back to Home Southwest Florida is home to more than 60,000 veterans — men and women who served our nation and chose to build their lives here. Read full quote

He isn't a career politician. He's running to cut the red tape for veterans, protect Medicare for seniors, and defend the water quality that drives our economy.

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Emergency management

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Working across the aisle to pass infrastructure funding for roads, bridges, broadband, and hurricane disaster preparedness for FL-19.

Fight for federal disaster preparedness and recovery funding for our hurricane-prone coast.

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Values and beliefs

Jim Schwartzel is proud to support President Donald J. Trump and the America First agenda. Read full quote

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I am a strict constitutionalist. Before I ask whether a bill sounds good, I ask a more fundamental question: Does the Constitution give Congress the authority to do it?

I advocate for a literal interpretation of the Constitution, ensuring that our laws reflect the original intent of the Founding Fathers and the document's text.

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