FL Politics: “With U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds running for Governor in 2026, who will represent Southwest Florida in Congress?
A year and a half out from the 2026 Primary, nobody has formally filed. But political consultants in the region say a host of politicians and potential self-funders have already taken steps to jump into the race in Florida’s 19th Congressional District. That includes multiple candidates who served in Congress in other areas of the country.
Many expect Madison Cawthorn, a former North Carolina Congressman who moved to Lee County after losing a 2022 Primary, to get into the race. The far-right Republican has been politically engaged in Florida politics since his arrival in the state.
There are also many who wonder if former state Rep. Bob Rommel, a Naples Republican currently filed for a Florida Senate race, leaves that contest in favor of running for Congress. Should he do so, that may mean several political allies considering a run will stay out of the race. If he files for Congress, a substantial amount already raised in a political committee could be redirected to a federal super PAC, though federal law would require Rommel to relinquish control of how it gets used.
Other well-financed figures are also likely to jump in. That could include former U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, who represented New York but resigned amid an insider trading scandal. Collins had been the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for President before he was convicted on federal charges. Trump pardoned Collins in 2020, and Collins has reportedly approached local consultants about potentially running again.”