U.S. House · Florida's 16th District

The Sarasota–Bradenton area on Florida's Gulf Coast, including Sarasota, North Port, and parts of Manatee County, under Florida's 2026 congressional map.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Sydney Gruters, projected winner

Candidate	Votes	Share
Sydney Gruters	175,643	51.2%
Kelly Kirschner	161,108	47%
Mark Davis	6,282	1.8%

About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

Florida's U.S. House elections use a new congressional map for 2026; Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the new district boundaries into law on May 4, 2026.[1]
Incumbent Rep. Vern Buchanan (R) did not make the ballot for the 16th District; the seat is open. Sydney Gruters won the Republican primary on August 18, 2026, defeating Eddie Speir and Ed Pope. Kelly Kirschner won the Democratic primary the same day, defeating Tamika Lyles, Jan Schneider, Jonathan Harris, and Glenn Pearson.[1][2]

On the November 3 ballot · 3 candidates

Kelly KirschnerDFormer Mayor of SarasotaFull profile →Sydney GrutersRPROJECTED WINNERFull profile →Mark DavisINDFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

Kelly Kirschner
—
Sydney Gruters
—
Mark Davis
Supports[4]
Says he supports defending bodily autonomy along with voting rights and equal rights.

Stricter gun laws

Kelly Kirschner
—
Sydney Gruters
—
Mark Davis
Mixed[4]
Says he supports both the 2nd Amendment and additional gun-safety laws.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

Kelly Kirschner
—
Sydney Gruters
In their own words[6]
“I don't think we need more laws in place. The laws are there. We just have to enforce them.”
At the League of Women Voters CD 16 forum, as reported by WUSF (Sept. 24, 2026)
Mark Davis
—

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

Kelly Kirschner
—
Sydney Gruters
In their own words[3]
“Sydney will fight to curb overdevelopment and keep homeownership within reach for working families.”
On her campaign website, Housing Costs priority
Mark Davis
—

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

Kelly Kirschner
Supports[2]
Says he wants to close loopholes that let corporations and billionaires pay little or no federal tax.
Sydney Gruters
—
Mark Davis
—

Expand public health coverage

Kelly Kirschner
Supports[2]
Pledges to restore recent federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and protect coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Sydney Gruters
Opposes[6]
At the League of Women Voters CD16 debate she said she does not want nationalized health care and called for cutting and not expanding government spending.
Mark Davis
Supports[4]
Supports a single-payer healthcare system.

Increase police funding and staffing

Kelly Kirschner
—
Sydney Gruters
In their own words[6]
“I support our law enforcement, and we have to keep our community safe, and we can only do that through law and order.”
At the League of Women Voters CD 16 forum, as reported by WUSF (Sept. 24, 2026)
Mark Davis
—

Broad tariffs on imported goods

Kelly Kirschner
Opposes[2]
Criticizes recent tariff policy as harmful to Florida small businesses, farmers, and fishermen.
Sydney Gruters
—
Mark Davis
—

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

Kelly Kirschner
Supports[2]
In his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey he says only Congress has the constitutional power to declare war and criticizes Washington for avoiding debate over "wars of choice."
Sydney Gruters
—
Mark Davis
—

ISSUE	Kelly Kirschner D	Sydney Gruters R	Mark Davis IND
Protect legal access to abortion	—	—	Supports[4] Says he supports defending bodily autonomy along with voting rights and equal rights.
Stricter gun laws	—	—	Mixed[4] Says he supports both the 2nd Amendment and additional gun-safety laws.
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations	—	In their own words[6] “I don't think we need more laws in place. The laws are there. We just have to enforce them.” At the League of Women Voters CD 16 forum, as reported by WUSF (Sept. 24, 2026)	—
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing	—	In their own words[3] “Sydney will fight to curb overdevelopment and keep homeownership within reach for working families.” On her campaign website, Housing Costs priority	—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations	Supports[2] Says he wants to close loopholes that let corporations and billionaires pay little or no federal tax.	—	—
Expand public health coverage	Supports[2] Pledges to restore recent federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and protect coverage for pre-existing conditions.	Opposes[6] At the League of Women Voters CD16 debate she said she does not want nationalized health care and called for cutting and not expanding government spending.	Supports[4] Supports a single-payer healthcare system.
Increase police funding and staffing	—	In their own words[6] “I support our law enforcement, and we have to keep our community safe, and we can only do that through law and order.” At the League of Women Voters CD 16 forum, as reported by WUSF (Sept. 24, 2026)	—
Broad tariffs on imported goods	Opposes[2] Criticizes recent tariff policy as harmful to Florida small businesses, farmers, and fishermen.	—	—
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad	Supports[2] In his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey he says only Congress has the constitutional power to declare war and criticizes Washington for avoiding debate over "wars of choice."	—	—

Research notes & limits

Sydney Gruters has not completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey; her biography draws on her campaign website and WGCU. Mark Davis's biography is limited to his Candidate Connection survey, campaign site and WGCU; no employer, birth year or college is stated in sources found. Kelly Kirschner's Sarasota office dates were not stated in a source loaded, so none are given.

Sources · 19

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

1.Florida's 16th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
2.Kelly Kirschner · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
3.Sydney Gruters For Congress · Gruters for Congress campaign site Candidate's own words
4.Mark Davis's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
5.Watch: Congressional candidate arrested during welfare check of his children · WWSB News · 2026-07-30 News report
6.Candidates to replace Vern Buchanan in Congress spar in an online forum · WUSF (League of Women Voters CD16 debate coverage) News report
7.Kelly Kirschner · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
8.Kelly Kirschner for U.S. Congress - FL 16 (About Kelly) · Kirschner for Congress campaign site Candidate's own words
9.Three very different candidates vying for Congress in Florida District 16 · WGCU News · 2026-10-16 News report
10.U.S. House · Florida's 16th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
11.Sydney Gruters For Congress · Gruters for Congress campaign site Candidate's own words
12.Three very different candidates vying for Congress in Florida District 16 · WGCU News · 2026-10-16 News report
13.Sydney Gruters · Ballotpedia Reference
14.Florida U.S. House District 16 election results 2026 · NBC News News report
15.Mark Davis's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
16.Three very different candidates vying for Congress in Florida District 16 · WGCU News · 2026-10-16 News report
17.More About Why · Mark Davis for Congress campaign site Candidate's own words
18.Mark Davis (Florida) · Ballotpedia Reference
19.U.S. House · Florida's 16th District results 2026 · NBC News News report