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U.S. House · Florida's 19th District

Southwest Florida including Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Estero, under Florida's 2026 congressional map.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Jim Schwartzel, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Jim Schwartzel198,76561.1%
Victor Arias122,42537.6%
Seth Haskin3,9981.2%

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. Byron Donalds (R) did not make the ballot for this district; the seat is open. Jim Schwartzel won a crowded Republican primary on August 18, 2026 that also included former Rep. Madison Cawthorn and former state Sen. Catalina Lauf, among others. Victor Arias won the Democratic primary, defeating Robert Neeld and Howard Sapp.[1][2]
  • Alexandra Zakhvatayev is running as a write-in candidate with no party affiliation.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 4 candidates

Victor AriasDAttorney (Owner and Managing Attorney, Arias Law Firm)Full profile →Jim SchwartzelRPROJECTED WINNERFull profile →Seth HaskinINDFull profile →Alexandra ZakhvatayevINDFull 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.

Stricter gun laws

  • Victor Arias
    —
  • Jim Schwartzel
    In their own words[3]
    “From protecting free speech and religious freedom to preserving the right to keep and bear arms, Jim will never back down from defending the God-given liberties that make our nation the freest in the world.”

    On his campaign website, as reproduced by Ballotpedia (June 23, 2026)

  • Seth Haskin
    —
  • Alexandra Zakhvatayev
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Victor Arias
    In their own words[2]
    “I would use my knowledge as an Attorney to work together with everyone in UNITY to come up with a humane solution and exercise dignity and respect for all human beings.”

    Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, 2026, on immigration

  • Jim Schwartzel
    Supports[3]

    Supports Trump administration border security policies, including deportations and completing a border wall.

  • Seth Haskin
    —
  • Alexandra Zakhvatayev
    —

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  • Victor Arias
    —
  • Jim Schwartzel
    In their own words[3]
    “I will cut funding to schools that push gender ideology and leftist propaganda and support parents' right to choose the best schools for their children.”

    Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, 2025

  • Seth Haskin
    —
  • Alexandra Zakhvatayev
    —

Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports

  • Victor Arias
    —
  • Jim Schwartzel
    Supports[3]

    Campaign website says he opposes biological men competing in women's sports.

  • Seth Haskin
    —
  • Alexandra Zakhvatayev
    —

Research notes & limits

This is an open seat after incumbent Byron Donalds did not make the ballot. No biographical information found for write-in candidate Alexandra Zakhvatayev beyond her ballot listing; no campaign website found for Victor Arias, Jim Schwartzel (site blocked), or Seth Haskin, so biographies rely on Ballotpedia and, for Schwartzel, one news report.

Sources · 15

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

  1. 1.Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Victor Arias · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Jim Schwartzel · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Victor Arias · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Cape attorney wins Democratic congressional primary · Captiva Sanibel Islander · 2026-08-20 News report
  6. 6.U.S. House · Florida's 19th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  7. 7.Jim Schwartzel · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Jim Schwartzel Announces Bid to Replace Byron Donalds in Congressional District 19 · The Floridian News report
  9. 9.Florida U.S. House District 19 election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  10. 10.Florida's 19th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  11. 11.Seth Haskin · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  12. 12.U.S. House · Florida's 19th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  13. 13.Alexandra Zakhvatayev · Ballotpedia Reference
  14. 14.Alexandra Zakhvatayev · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  15. 15.U.S. House · Florida's 19th District results 2026 · NBC News News report