Republicans running for the new Congressional District 22 in south Florida.
While the city of Naples, North Naples and part of Golden Gate remain in District 19, Lely Resort and Marco Island are now in District 22. Everglades City, previously represented by District 26 and 12-term Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, also is in District 22.
The new district crosses the state through Picayune Strand National Forest, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier County and includes all of Hendry County and parts of inland Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Congressional District 22 currently represented by Democrat Lois Frankel, who is running in the reconfigured District 23.
Seven Republicans and two Democrats qualified to run for the seat.
Here’s who qualified to run in the Republican primary Aug. 18.
Casey Askar of Naples in Collier County. Askar describes himself on his website as a “national business leader, philanthropist and U.S Marine veteran who will go to work fixing the economy.” Askar said he is an immigrant who came to the U.S. from Iraq with his family when he was seven years old, and President Donald Trump supporter.
David Burck, who said he was born in Tampa, raised in South Florida and lives West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County. A former U.S. Marine and officer with the West Palm Beach Police Department, Burck now is a small-business owner.
Michael Carbonara lives in Cooper City in Broward County and was born in Long Island, New York. Carbonara founded a genomics company – Gattaca Genomics – “to help families struggling with infertility.”
Richard Evans lives in Ave Maria in Collier County, having moved to Florida in 2020 from Chicago. A CPA and risk manager, Evans ran unsuccessfully against Diaz-Balart in 2024 in District 26.
Terri Hasdorff, Loxahatchee in Palm Beach County. A small-business owner with an MBA and chair of Republican Federal Women’s Forum. In her book, Running Into the Fire, Hasdorff said she wrote “that inaction is no longer an option. Christians and people of faith must engage with courage to preserve our freedoms and values.”
Belinda Keiser lives in Parkland in Broward County. Keiser is Vice Chancellor of Community Relations and Student Advancement at Keiser University Keiser says on her website that she “has devoted her career to advancing Florida’s economic development, higher education, workforce development, and global competitiveness communities.”
Michael Thompson was born in Palm Beach Gardens, raised in Belle Glade and lives in Alva. Thompson is former Lee County Republican Executive Committee chair. He originally declared a campaign to challenge incumbent Tiffany Esposito for Florida House District 77. He officially withdrew from that state legislative race to launch his congressional bid. Thompson has worked as a local realtor, served as an Alva Fire Commissioner, and founded the SW Florida Heroes Foundation.
The primary elections, scheduled for Aug. 18, will determine which candidates from each party will appear on the November ballot.
Only voters registered with a particular political party can vote in that party’s primary election, but all registered voters may vote in the Nov. 3 election.
J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.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.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Take a first look at the 7 Republicans running for U.S. Rep. District 22
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
