Jim Schwartzel won Tuesday’s (Aug. 18) Republican primary for Florida’s 19 Congressional District, emerging from a crowded field vying to replace Byron Donalds, who gave up the seat to run for governor. Schwartzel will advance to the general election and face a Democrat, an NPA candidate and a write-in candidate in November.
Schwartzel got 25,595 votes – 29.15%, while Trump-endorsed opponent Catalina Lauf trailed behind receiving 19,210 votes – 21.88%, according to the Florida Division of Elections website at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday. Democrat Victor Arias got 14,891 votes – 45.46%. Howard Sapp trailed behind with receiving 13,443 votes – 41.04%.
District 19, which covers most of Lee County and the coastal areas of Collier County, is a Republican stronghold, meaning the GOP primary is widely expected to decide its next representative in Washington, D.C.
Cheers and applause echoed outside Schwartzel’s election night watch party as supporters packed the room, many dressed in red, white and blue. “This is real. We have local representation in D.C., and each one of you have a constituent advocate in me representing you in Washington for our community,” Schwartzel said, surrounded by family and supporters Tuesday night.
His remarks were met with chants of “Schwartzel, Schwartzel, Schwartzel” from supporters.
Schwartzel said one of the biggest lessons from the campaign was the importance of assembling a strong team. “There’s so many people that have supported me. I raised more money here, and it’s from local donors. So it’s people that gave to me, and so it’s not, like, any one person. There are hundreds of people that have helped support this campaign.”
Trump endorsed Lauf on Aug. 13, five days before the election, but the endorsement was not enough to propel her to victory.
Asked what he would say to voters who backed another candidate, Schwartzel said, “I’m going to be there for them. I represent Southwest Florida. I’m going to represent Southwest Florida, and I’m going to represent them.”
Looking ahead, Schwartzel said transportation and infrastructure would remain among his top priorities.
“There’s a lot of national issues that we need to take care of. We need to pass the SAVE America Act. We need to deal with immigration and so forth. But locally, for Southwest Florida, transportation and infrastructure are the most critical needs,” he said. “That will lead to more affordable housing, and it’ll be a trickle-down effect for Southwest Florida.”
Schwartzel touched on his local roots. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and it’s paradise. I met my wife here in high school. We’ve raised two beautiful kids, and we’ve been a part of the philanthropic community of Southwest Florida for over 20 years,” he said. “This is just another way for me to be able to give back to the community.”
Ten Republican candidates threw their hats in the ring, leaving Tuesday’s primary results uncertain until the votes were counted. Three Democrats stepped in to vie for the nomination to take on the winning GOP candidate in Southwest Florida, a solidly red region.
The crowded race included 15 candidates, with 10 Republican hopefuls who ran on America First or MAGA platforms to compete for support from the district’s pro-Trump voters.
For months, congressional candidates campaigned on platforms of border security, water quality and fiscal discipline to address a $39 trillion national debt as they navigate a race that remains unsettled with no clear frontrunner.
District 19 was a crowded race with some well-known candidates
Candidate Catalina Lauf got a late endorsement from President Trump, but it wasn’t enough to put her in front. She was a former special adviser at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Trump administration. Businessman Jim Oberweis, 80, lives in Bonita Springs after moving from Illinois in 2020.
Another challenger was Madison Cawthorn, 31, who has lived in Cape Coral since 2022, relocating from North Carolina. He is a former member of Congress representing North Carolina’s 11th District. Chris Collins, 76, also ran. He lives on Marco Island and has called Collier County home for nearly a decade.
Meet the primary winner
About Jim Schwartzel
Age: 50
Hometown: Naples native and lifelong resident of Southwest Florida
Education: Bishop Verot High School and Stetson University (B.A. in business and finance, 1998)
Experience: President of Sun Broadcasting (including 92.5 Fox News, 93.7 Trump Country), media owner of Gulfshore Life and former intern for Connie Mack and Porter Goss
Campaign priorities: Border security (finishing the wall and deporting illegals), tax cuts, reducing federal regulations and securing funding for Southwest Florida infrastructure
How would you describe your political philosophy and where do you place yourself on the political spectrum? Why? He says he’s a “Trump conservative” who supports limited government, low taxes and strong defense. He places himself “solidly on the right” but says he is uninterested in “performance politics”
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.
Follow The News-Press & Naples Daily News throughout the Election 2026 campaign season, including Q&As with candidates running in key Southwest Florida races coming soon.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Jim Schwartzel wins Republican primary in U.S. District 19 race
Reporting by Mickenzie Hannon, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mickenzie Hannon, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
