U.S. House · Florida's 19th District
Jim Schwartzel
CandidateR
- Race
- U.S. House · Florida's 19th District
- Result
- Jim Schwartzel, projected winner
- Opponents
- Victor Arias (D); Seth Haskin (IND); Alexandra Zakhvatayev (IND)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did2 statements · 0 votes
No nation can survive without borders—I will support Trump's policies to secure the border, deport illegal immigrants, and finish the wall.
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 19
2026-11-03
| Victor Arias D | challenger |
| Jim Schwartzel R | challenger |
| Seth Haskin IND | challenger |
| Alexandra Zakhvatayev IND | challenger |
Won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary in a crowded field
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
No nation can survive without borders—I will support Trump's policies to secure the border, deport illegal immigrants, and finish the wall.
Supports Trump administration border security policies, including deportations and completing a border wall.[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Jim stands firmly against biological men competing in women's sports
Campaign website says he opposes biological men competing in women's sports.[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Republican Jim Schwartzel won the open seat for Florida's 19th District on November 3, 2026, defeating Victor Arias, according to unofficial results. A Southwest Florida broadcaster and publisher, he owns and operates conservative radio stations and a local newspaper publisher, and won the Republican primary on August 18, 2026. In his Candidate Connection survey he describes himself as a businessman and outsider and says he ran to support President Trump's agenda.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Schwartzel was born in Naples, Florida, according to Ballotpedia, and describes himself as a lifelong Southwest Florida resident.[2] He graduated from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers and earned a bachelor's degree from Stetson University in 1998.[2][3] He says his first job, at age 12, was watering and sweeping the clay tennis courts at The Landings in Fort Myers.[2] Ballotpedia lists his career experience as business owner and president; according to The Floridian, he owns and operates 92.5 FOX News and Trump County 93.7 Radio in Southwest Florida and owns Gulfshore Life Media, which publishes the Naples Press.[2][3]
Schwartzel announced his candidacy in April 2025, after Rep. Byron Donalds said he would not seek re-election and would run for governor.[3] He described himself to reporters as a non-politician and said he would buy his own ads on his stations rather than block other candidates' ads.[3] He won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary in a field of ten candidates with 29.1% of the vote.[2] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 61.1% of the vote to Victor Arias's 37.6%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1] According to his campaign survey, he is married to Carly and they have two children.[2]
In their own words
Priorities
- Says Washington needs business leaders rather than career politicians, and campaigns on cutting spending and opposing overregulation.[4]
- Supports securing the border, deporting people in the country illegally, and finishing construction of a border wall.[4]
- Supports tax cuts and policies aimed at increasing domestic energy production.[4]
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
“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.”[4]
Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, 2025
- Stricter gun laws
“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.”[4]
On his campaign website, as reproduced by Ballotpedia (June 23, 2026)
Campaign money$2.1M raised · 49% from individuals · FEC through 2026-07-29
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $1.0M
- PACs & committees $9,500
- Own money & loans $1.1M
Largest committee contributions
- Build Our Future PAC PAC$5,000
- Buckeye Liberty Political Action Committee PAC$5,000
- L3harris Technologies, Inc. PAC PAC$5,000
- First in Freedom PAC PAC$5,000
- The Eye of the Tiger Political Action Committee PAC$5,000
- National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (Nabpac) PAC$4,500
- Duane Morris Government Committee PAC$3,500
- National Automobile Dealers Association Political Action Committee PAC$2,500
- Strengthening the American Republic (STAR) PAC PAC$2,000
- RVFPAC PAC$2,000
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/jim-schwartzel
Compare all 4 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Florida U.S. House District 19 election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 2.Jim Schwartzel · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 3.Jim Schwartzel Announces Bid to Replace Byron Donalds in Congressional District 19 · The Floridian News report
- 4.Jim Schwartzel · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words