The race for Florida’s 19th Congressional District is one of the most crowded fields in the state. Voters will nominate a candidate to represent their party in the primary election Aug. 18.
Ten Republicans, three Democrats, one non-party-affiliated candidate and one write-in candidate are vying for the nomination to succeed Byron Donalds in the heavily conservative district.
Howard Sapp, 62, is running for Florida’s 19th Congressional District seat. Currently retired, he spent more than 30 years as an air traffic controller and now serves as CEO of the Source of Light and Hope Development Center, a nonprofit organization that supports at-risk youth. Sapp is an ordained minister and gospel artist, and he previously ran for the Florida House in 2022.
Sapp is a Fort Myers native and has spent his life in Lee County. He is married and has children. He is also the nephew of the late Veronica Shoemaker, the first Black person elected to the Fort Myers City Council. Sapp earned a degree in biology and chemistry from Edward Waters College and a bachelor’s degree in theological studies from Northwestern University. Sapp said his platform is centered on honesty, integrity and unity, with priorities that include expanding affordable housing, ensuring clean water, improving access to health care and strengthening worker protections.
Congressional candidates are campaigning 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.
Florida’s 19th Congressional District includes most of Lee County and the coastal areas of Collier County. It is considered a Republican stronghold, where Donalds won with more than 66% of the vote in 2024, meaning the winner of the GOP primary is widely expected to represent the district in Washington, D.C.
Q&A with District 19 candidate Sapp
Why are you the best person to represent Congressional District 19 in Washington, and what in your background has prepared you to serve effectively?
I am running for Congress because I believe public office is about service, not power. As a lifelong resident of Southwest Florida, a pastor and a community advocate, I’ve spent my life bringing people together, listening to families, and helping solve problems. I’ve seen firsthand the struggles that working families, seniors, veterans, teachers, healthcare workers and small business owners face every day.
My ministry has taught me that leadership begins with compassion and accountability. My work in the community has shown me that lasting solutions come from listening first, then acting with integrity. Washington doesn’t need another politician focused on partisan battles — it needs representatives who remember who sent them there.
I will bring a voice that puts people before politics, protects our natural resources, fights for economic opportunity and works across differences to deliver real results for Southwest Florida.
How would you describe your political philosophy and where do you place yourself on the political spectrum? Why?
I consider myself a progressive who believes in practical solutions and community-centered leadership. Labels matter less than results. I believe government has an important role in ensuring every person has a fair opportunity to succeed — not by replacing personal responsibility, but by creating conditions where hard work can actually pay off. That means investing in education, protecting clean water, expanding access to affordable healthcare, defending constitutional rights, supporting workers and ensuring our economy works for everyone—not just those already at the top. I also believe in fiscal responsibility. Public dollars should be invested wisely, government should be transparent and programs should be measured by whether they improve people’s lives. Above all, I believe we accomplish more when we stop treating neighbors as enemies and start working together.
If elected, what are your top three priorities for District 19, and what specific legislation or actions would you pursue to accomplish them?
My first priority is making Southwest Florida affordable again. I would support legislation to increase the supply of affordable housing, strengthen competition in insurance markets, lower prescription drug costs, protect Social Security and Medicare and provide tax relief targeted toward working families rather than special interests.
Second, I will fight to protect our environment and strengthen disaster resilience. Clean water is essential to our economy, tourism, fishing industry, and quality of life. I will pursue federal investments to reduce harmful algae blooms, restore the Everglades, improve stormwater infrastructure, strengthen coastal resilience and modernize flood protection.
Third, I will work to strengthen our workforce and local economy by investing in public education, workforce training, apprenticeships, broadband expansion, small businesses and infrastructure that supports sustainable economic growth.
These priorities are connected because healthy communities create stronger economies.
Sapp on affordability and growth in Southwest Florida
Affordability remains a major concern for Southwest Florida residents. What should Congress do to address the cost of housing, insurance, health care, energy and other everyday expenses while promoting economic growth and fiscal responsibility?
Families aren’t asking for special treatment — they’re asking for a fair chance. Congress should increase affordable housing construction, expand incentives for workforce housing, encourage zoning reform and address corporate practices that artificially drive up housing costs. Healthcare costs can be reduced by allowing Medicare to negotiate more prescription drug prices, expanding community health centers, increasing mental health services and protecting coverage for people with preexisting conditions. These fixes to the Affordable Care Act should be addressed immediately while we work towards creating a Medicare for All style system. Insurance affordability requires stronger oversight of fraud while addressing climate resilience that reduces catastrophic losses. We must also invest in infrastructure that makes communities safer and lowers long-term insurance risks. Growing our economy means investing in small businesses, manufacturing, clean energy innovation and workforce development. Fiscal responsibility means making smart investments that save money over time while ensuring the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations pay their fair share.
Southwest Florida faces ongoing challenges involving growth, infrastructure, environmental protection, water quality, hurricane resilience, and disaster recovery. What role should the federal government play in addressing these issues?
These challenges cannot be solved by local governments alone. The federal government should be a strong partner by providing funding, technical expertise, and long-term planning support while allowing local communities to shape solutions. I support increased investments in Everglades restoration, estuary protection, water quality improvements, modern transportation infrastructure, resilient power grids, stronger building standards, affordable flood mitigation and faster disaster recovery. Climate resilience is not a partisan issue — it’s an economic necessity. Every dollar invested in mitigation saves multiple dollars in future disaster recovery.
Hot topics: Immigration, foreign aid and social policy
What are your views on border security and immigration reform, including deportation policies, ICE and border patrol regulation, birthright citizenship and the role of states, especially Florida, in immigration enforcement? What is your opinion about Alligator Alcatraz?
America deserves both secure borders and a fair immigration system. We should invest in modern border technology, adequate staffing and efficient processing while aggressively targeting drug traffickers, human traffickers and transnational criminal organizations. At the same time, Congress must finally pass comprehensive immigration reform that creates an earned pathway to legal status for long-term law-abiding undocumented immigrants, modernizes legal immigration, protects Dreamers and provides employers with reliable legal workforce programs. We need to abolish the flawed agency ICE and focus on the legal and administrative bottlenecks in the immigration system. Immigration enforcement should prioritize dangerous criminals — not families who have lived peacefully in our communities for years.
I oppose efforts to end birthright citizenship because it is clearly established by the Constitution and longstanding legal precedent. Florida should cooperate with federal authorities where appropriate, but immigration enforcement should remain primarily a federal responsibility to ensure consistent application of the law and protection of constitutional rights. Regarding “Alligator Alcatraz,” I believe immigration policy should reflect America’s values. Detention should be humane, legally accountable and focused on public safety — not political theater or unnecessarily punitive symbolism.
What should U.S. policy be regarding major international challenges, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, and what role should Congress play in decisions involving military action and foreign spending?
America should lead through strong alliances, diplomacy, economic engagement and principled support for democracy and human rights. I support continued assistance that helps Ukraine defend its sovereignty while ensuring strong congressional oversight and accountability for public dollars. Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. Diplomatic efforts should remain the first option while maintaining strong sanctions and regional security partnerships. We should not be dragged into another Middle East unending war at the behest of Isreal without a clear national security imperative for the United States.
Regarding Cuba and Venezuela, the United States should continue supporting democratic movements and human rights while recognizing that decades of isolation alone have not produced the desired political changes. We should pursue policies that empower civil society and the people rather than authoritarian governments. We also need to respect the sovereignty of foreign nations and not act out the imperial fever dreams of a wannabe dictator. Congress must fully exercise its constitutional responsibility regarding declarations of war, military authorizations and oversight of foreign assistance. Major military commitments deserve public debate and congressional approval.
What are your positions on the major cultural and governance issues facing the country today, including abortion, gun rights, education, LGBTQ protections, artificial intelligence, social media regulation, term limits and government accountability?
I support protecting reproductive freedom and believe these deeply personal medical decisions belong between patients and their healthcare providers. I support the Second Amendment while also supporting universal background checks, safe storage initiatives, red flag laws with due process protections and measures that reduce gun violence while respecting responsible gun ownership. Education should prepare students for success — not become a political battlefield. We should invest in public schools, teachers, career education and affordable higher education. Every American deserves equal protection under the law regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Discrimination has no place in our country. Artificial intelligence offers tremendous opportunity but requires thoughtful safeguards for privacy, transparency, workers and consumers. Social media companies should be more accountable for protecting children and preventing harmful practices. I support congressional term limits enacted through constitutional means, stronger ethics rules, campaign finance reform, financial transparency and tougher anti-corruption measures.
Sapp weighs in on elections and Donald Trump
What is your stance on the VOTE Act, election security and voter rights?
Every eligible American should be able to vote freely, securely and conveniently. I support strong election security measures, including secure voting systems, accurate voter rolls, cybersecurity protections and audits where appropriate. Election security and voting access are complementary — not competing — goals. I also support expanding early voting, protecting vote-by-mail, ensuring adequate polling locations, restoring protections against voter discrimination and opposing efforts that unnecessarily burden eligible voters. If the VOTE Act strengthens both election integrity and voter access while protecting constitutional rights, I would carefully evaluate and support provisions that accomplish those goals.
What specific policies or actions implemented during President Donald Trump’s administrations would you seek to reverse or modify? Why, and how would you pursue those changes in Congress?
My focus is not on relitigating the past but on building a better future. That said, there are several policies I believe should be changed because they have made life harder for working families and weakened public trust. I would work to restore environmental protections that safeguard our water, air and public lands. I would strengthen access to affordable healthcare by building upon the Affordable Care Act rather than weakening it. I would pursue comprehensive immigration reform to replace policies that separated families or relied primarily on deterrence instead of balanced enforcement and legal pathways. I would also support restoring stronger ethics standards across government, protecting voting rights, defending the independence of our democratic institutions and ensuring that federal agencies serve the public rather than partisan interests.
Congress accomplishes change through legislation, oversight, bipartisan negotiation where possible and faithful adherence to the Constitution. My commitment is to govern with integrity, respect differing viewpoints and always put the people of Southwest Florida first. It’s time for honesty, accountability and unity.
Visit hsapp4congress.com to learn more about his campaign.
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 important deadlines and Q&As with candidates running in key Southwest Florida races.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Meet Congressional District 19 hopeful Howard Sapp ahead of election
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
