(This story has been updated with new information.)
Byron Donalds’ decision to run for governor in 2026 has opened one of the most closely watched congressional seats in Southwest Florida.
Florida’s 19th Congressional District, which includes most of Lee County and coastal Collier County, has long leaned heavily Republican. Donalds won more than 66% of the vote in 2024, and nearly 64% of district voters backed Donald Trump at the top of the ticket.
With no incumbent on the ballot, the Republican primary is widely expected to decide who represents the district in Washington. So far, the race is crowded with wealthy business executives, political transplants, veterans and former members of Congress from other states. Fundraising totals and early maneuvering suggest a race that is still unsettled, with no clear frontrunner months before ballots are cast.
Here’s a look at the candidates, organized from highest to lowest campaign fundraising totals.
James “Jim” Oberweis (Republican)
Former Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis, 79, currently dominates the fundraising field. Campaign finance reports through the end of 2025 show Oberweis with $3,358,585.89 in total receipts, the highest among all declared candidates. Much of that total comes from a $2 million personal loan to his campaign.
Oberweis, chairman of Oberweis Dairy, relocated to Bonita Springs after several unsuccessful bids for Congress and the U.S. Senate in Illinois.
He has never served in Congress. His closest attempt came in 2020 in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. Oberweis was ahead on election night and attended New Member Orientation in Washington, where he met Byron Donalds, but ultimately lost after roughly 20,000 additional mail-in ballots were counted.
Oberweis served in the Illinois State Senate from 2013 to 2021, representing the 25th District and later serving as Republican Minority Whip.
His platform focuses on conservative priorities, including border security, tax reform, term limits, school choice and Second Amendment protections. He has called for ending birthright citizenship for those in the country illegally, supports the SAVE Act requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections and backs a “No Budget, No Pay” proposal that would withhold congressional pay if lawmakers fail to pass a budget, along with a flat tax.
His campaign argues that early fundraising strength matters in a large, expensive district.
“In politics, it’s often said that ‘Money is the first primary.’ That means that early political donations and a campaign’s financial viability are a first indication of voter support,” said Clinton Soffer, a senior strategist for the Oberweis campaign.
Visit votejimo.com to learn more about his campaign.
Jim Schwartzel (Republican)
Fort Myers businessman Jim Schwartzel, president of Sun Broadcasting, is second in fundraising with $1,454,078.27 in total receipts, including a $1 million personal loan.
Schwartzel, 49, is a Naples native and Bishop Verot High School graduate. He has been a registered Florida voter since 1994.
“Southwest Florida needs someone who understands our values, will stand up for our community, and refuses to bow to the D.C. establishment,” his campaign site reads. “Just like President Donald Trump, I am a businessman – not a politician – and I’m ready to be your conservative fighter in Congress.”
In early March, Sun Broadcasting closed on a $40 million purchase of WFTX-TV (Fox 4) from the E.W. Scripps Company. Schwartzel’s holdings also include the CW affiliate WXCW-TV, several Southwest Florida radio stations such as 92.5 Fox News and 93.7 Trump Country and the magazines Gulfshore Life and Gulfshore Business.
His campaign has drawn attention following the dismissal of longtime WINK News chief meteorologist Matt Devitt. Fort Myers Broadcasting Company operates WINK News and previously shared facilities with Sun Broadcasting under a shared services agreement. WINK relocated to a new headquarters in Gateway in January.
Devitt wrote publicly after his termination, “After 10 years, my time with WINK News has come to an end after being let go from my role as Chief Meteorologist on Thursday. This decision was not one that I expected or agreed with and was not given the opportunity to say goodbye on-air. It was a complete shock to me, my family and fellow coworkers.”
Primary rival Catalina Lauf criticized Schwartzel in a social media post, accusing him of being responsible for the firing.
Schwartzel responded on X: “For political reasons, some are circulating false claims that I own or control WINK News. I want to be clear: I do not own WINK TV or WINK News.”
Schwartzel’s campaign focuses on border security, tax cuts and reducing federal regulations. He supports finishing the border wall, deporting people in the country illegally and cracking down on drug trafficking. Schwartzel also backs congressional term limits, school choice and Second Amendment protections, and says he would work to secure federal funding for infrastructure improvements as Southwest Florida continues to grow.
Visit jimforcongress.com to learn more about his campaign.
Madison Cawthorn (Republican)
Former North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn, 30, has raised $518,248.46 since entering the race. Cawthorn moved to Cape Coral in 2022 after losing his Republican primary in North Carolina and has framed Florida as a place to restart his political career.
During and after Cawthorn’s single term in Congress, he faced multiple controversies, including airport gun incidents and sexual misconduct allegations.
In Florida, he was convicted of rear-ending a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle in Collier County in 2024. On Sept. 10, 2025, Cawthorn was arrested in Lee County on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court related to a citation for driving without a valid license.
Cawthorn presents himself as a staunch Trump ally and “America First” conservative, focusing on strengthening border security, limiting foreign aid, protecting Second Amendment rights and opposing what he calls “woke indoctrination” in schools, the military and culture.
“In Congress, President Trump will have no stronger advocate to uphold America first values, than Madison Cawthorn,” his campaign website reads. “America first values are Southwest Florida values, and that will continue to be Madison Cawthorn‘s highest priority.”
Visit madisoncawthorn.com to learn more about his campaign.
Catalina Lauf (Republican)
Catalina Lauf, 32, who previously ran for Congress in Illinois, has raised $433,749.57. Lauf, another transplant from the Midwest, lives in Bonita Springs with her family.
She’s emphasized her work in the Trump administration and her pitch as a new-generation conservative leader. Her campaign has focused heavily on ideological purity and attacks on rivals she views as insufficiently conservative, including Schwartzel. Lauf’s fundraising places her in the middle tier of the race.
“Florida’s 19th District deserves a strong, principled leader who will put the people first and defend the America First agenda every single day. Catalina Lauf is ready to deliver that leadership,” her campaign website reads.
Visit catalinaforcongress.com to learn more about her campaign.
Ola Hawatmeh (Republican)
Ola Hawatmeh, 49, is running as a Republican. According to the latest campaign finance data, Hawatmeh’s campaign has raised a total of $254,164.65 in receipts. She is a business owner, fashion designer and philanthropist, born in the U.S. to Christian immigrant parents from Jordan.
Hawatmeh spent the past year as a Senior Policy Advisor in Washington, D.C., where she worked on legislation and helped constituents navigate federal agencies. She says her experience in D.C. equips her to “bring federal dollars home” to Southwest Florida for clean water initiatives, stormwater systems and resilient infrastructure.
Her platform issues include border security, term limits, Second Amendment protections and policies aimed at lowering the cost of living and reforming insurance for local families.
In a statement to The News-Press/Naples Daily News March 12, Hawatmeh said she plans to file legislation to rename the I-75 southern corridor the “President Donald J. Trump Superhighway” if she is elected to the seat. “President Donald Trump is the most consequential and America First president in U.S. history. Honoring his accomplishments, accomplishments that have saved American lives, protected our God-given liberties and freedoms, and helped us continue to live our American dream, is an easy call. I am looking forward to hitting the road with him to Make America Great Again,” Hawatmeh said.
Visit olaforcongress.com to learn more about her campaign.
Who else is running, and how much traction do they have?
While a handful of candidates dominate fundraising and headlines, a sizable group of other contenders is also seeking to shape the race. Their backgrounds range from military service to prior criminal convictions to nonprofit leadership.
John Strand (Republican)
Naples resident John Strand, 42, has built his candidacy around his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Federal court records show he was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison in connection with the events of that day.
“A Democrat regime persecuted me with false charges and political imprisonment. But I was vindicated by the Supreme Court, and then fully, legally exonerated,” Strand says on his campaign website.
His campaign messaging highlights faith, family, freedom and fortitude, along with opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns and what he calls “medical tyranny.” He has received public support from former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Dr. Simone Gold and Naples grocer Alfie Oakes. His campaign has reported raising about $1,200.
Visit johnstrand.com to learn more about his campaign.
Howard Sapp (Democrat)
Howard Sapp, a Fort Myers native, is running as a Democratic candidate in the race.
A retired air traffic controller with more than 30 years of experience, Sapp is also an ordained minister and serves as CEO of the Source of Light and Hope Development Center, a nonprofit focused on at-risk youth.
Sapp, 61, is also the nephew of the late Fort Myers City Councilwoman Veronica Shoemaker, who served on the council for 24 years and was the first Black person to serve as NAACP president in the area. She led the legal fight that created the city’s current ward system and was instrumental in desegregating Lee County schools.
His campaign focuses on honesty, integrity, accountability and unity. Key policy priorities include affordable housing, clean water, expanded access to health care and stronger worker protections.
Visit hsapp4congress.com to learn more about his campaign.
Mike Pedersen (Republican)
Cape Coral resident Mike Pedersen, 69, is a retired Marine Corps flight officer and U.S. Naval Academy graduate. He served 20 years on active duty and is a TOPGUN graduate.
Pedersen’s “Florida First, America Always” platform includes reducing the national debt, tightening border security, supporting government efficiency initiatives and protecting Second Amendment rights.
Pedersen has also lived in Cape Coral for over 26 years, according to public records.
“What drives me is simple: I love this country, I love Florida, and I want my grandchildren to grow up in a nation that still honors truth, discipline, freedom, and opportunity,” his campaign website reads. “That’s why I’m running to represent Florida’s 19th Congressional District.”
Visit mikepedersenforcongress.com to learn more about his campaign.
Victor Arias, Chris Collins, Jared Kane, Dylan Modarelli and Richard Youschak III have each reported $0 in receipts. The remaining candidates will be listed alphabetically by last name.
Victor Arias (Democrat)
Victor Arias, 64, is running as a Democrat candidate.
Arias was raised in the Douglas Housing Projects in Manhattan, earned degrees from Hamilton College and SUNY Buffalo Law School, and has lived in Florida since 1991. He has worked for more than 36 years as a managing attorney representing working families in personal injury, workers’ compensation and school law cases. Arias, who has been married for 32 years and is active in his church, says he is not a career politician but a community advocate focused on veterans, seniors and water quality.
In 2024, Arias ran as the Democratic candidate for Lee County school superintendent, the first election for the position since 1974. He lost to Republican Denise Carlin, who won 67.9% of the vote to Arias’ 32%.
His congressional platform focuses on lowering grocery prices, expanding affordable housing, reforming Medicare and reducing prescription drug costs. He also advocates for streamlining benefits access for veterans.
“From the Douglas Housing Projects to over 36 years advocating for justice in Florida’s courtrooms — Victor Arias brings the resilience of a self-made man and the heart of a community leader to Southwest Florida,” his campaign site reads. “I’ve spent my entire career advocating for those who couldn’t advocate for themselves. Now I’m ready to do the same for all of Southwest Florida.”
Visit votearias.us to learn more about his campaign.
Chris Collins (Republican)
Former New York Congressman Chris Collins, 75, resigned from Congress in 2019 after being charged in a federal insider trading case. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison before receiving a presidential pardon from Trump in 2020.
Collins owns a home on Marco Island and has argued that his previous service in Congress and his relationship with Trump could benefit Southwest Florida.
He was also the first sitting member of Congress to endorse Trump for president.
His campaign focuses on border and community security, combating drugs and crime, promoting economic growth, supporting U.S. leadership internationally, protecting conservative principles, opposing tax increases and policies he views as ‘woke’ and maintaining fairness in women’s sports.
“I’m ready to get back in the ring for our President to help him secure our borders, deport every illegal, defeat the cartels, and keep Florida families safe — for good,” one of Collins’s campaign mailers says.
“I helped President Trump start the fight in 2016. I’m running for Congress to help him finish it,” Collins said on his campaign website.
Visit CollinsFL19.com to learn more about his campaign.
Jared Kane (Democrat)
Jared Kane, 44, is a Fort Myers resident who has filed to run as a Democrat. Beyond his candidate filing, limited biographical details or policy positions have been publicly outlined.
Dylan Modarelli
Dylan Modarelli, 35, is campaigning as a “Congressman for Working Families.”
His policy proposals include promoting home ownership through down payment grants and zoning reform, and classifying fentanyl as a “weapon” rather than a drug.
Modarelli’s campaign highlights his personal journey, including losing his father to a heroin overdose at age five and being raised by his mother with help from family donations. He credits these experiences with teaching resilience and empathy. A former police officer turned entrepreneur, Modarelli describes himself as a married father motivated to create opportunities for everyday Americans.
“My mission is clear, to create a fairer, more inclusive America where opportunity belongs to everyone. I do not come from privilege, I come from the real world where hard work and heart matter,” Modarelli’s campaign website states.
Modarelli has not reported significant fundraising to date.
Visit modarelli4congress.com to learn more about his campaign.
Richard Youschak III (Republican)
Fort Myers resident Richard Youschak III, 25, is running as a Republican and holds a professional pilot license.
Beyond his filing information, Youschak has kept a low public profile in the race and has not reported notable fundraising.
Who’s dropped out?
John “Johnny” Fratto, 46, an entrepreneur and member of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee, has withdrawn from the Florida’s 19th District race.
Fratto told The News-Press & Naples Daily News he plans to focus on his company, MAGA Beer, and intends to run again in four to six years.
Fratto said he decided to endorse Madison Cawthorn after seeing him at the Women’s Republican Club of Naples Federated meeting Jan. 9, where candidates for Florida’s 19th Congressional District spoke.
“I wanted to see everybody else, how they debated, what they were all about,” Fratto said, “and after watching it, I decided Madison was, I mean, he crushed them.”
He praised Cawthorn’s debate performance, prior congressional experience and voting record in making his endorsement.
Another Republican candidate dropped out. 31-year-old Naples resident Stephen Elliott told the News-Press & Naples Daily News Tuesday, March 3, that he has withdrawn from the FL-19 race.
Beyond his initial filing as a candidate, Elliott kept a relatively low public profile in the race and had not reported significant fundraising.
What do early polls say about voter uncertainty?
Despite the crowded field, early polling suggests most Republican voters are still undecided. An internal poll conducted in October 2025 by Inquire found that 67% of likely Republican primary voters had not chosen a candidate.
The same poll showed that Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno would have been the immediate front-runner if he entered the race, with 34% support. Without Marceno, no declared candidate topped 9%, with Collins at 9%, followed by Oberweis and Cawthorn at 8% each.
“These numbers speak for themselves. Should Sheriff Carmine Marceno decide to run for Congress, he would become the immediate frontrunner and be well-positioned for a resounding victory in the Republican primary,” said Rob Schmidt, president of Inquire.
Is Lee Sheriff Carmine Marceno running?
Marceno has confirmed he will not run for the seat.
“I took a hard look at serving our community, state, and nation as a United States Congressman,” Marceno wrote in a social media post Monday, Feb. 23. “However, after careful consideration on how I can best serve my community – a community I love and cherish – I have decided I can best serve by putting criminals behind bars and protecting our most vulnerable as YOUR Sheriff.”
Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.
Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Crowded FL 19 race forms after Byron Donalds exit. Who is running?
Reporting by Mickenzie Hannon, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
