Brian Mast
Brian Mast, an Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan, has served in the U.S. House since 2017 (first in the 18th District, then the 21st after 2022 redistricting) and chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He was unopposed in the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary.
How they got on the ballot: Unopposed in Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary (CBS12)
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Strongly agrees· based on record
Mast voted for H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) on final passage in July 2025. The law made the 2017 individual tax-rate cuts permanent and added new deductions while reducing projected federal spending on Medicaid and SNAP.
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Mast voted for the Laken Riley Act (mandatory federal detention of unauthorized immigrants arrested for theft and certain other offenses) in January 2025 and for H.R. 1, which appropriated funds for border-wall construction, Border Patrol hiring and expanded immigration detention and removal operations.
Abortion Leans disagree· stated position
Mast identifies as pro-life with exceptions for the life of the mother, rape and incest; he welcomed the overturning of Roe v. Wade and has supported bills barring taxpayer funding of abortion and protecting infants born alive after attempted abortions. No statement on Florida's six-week law was found.
Guns Mixed / neutral· stated position
Mast's record is mixed relative to this statement. After the 2018 Parkland shooting he publicly supported defining and banning new sales of assault-style weapons, more comprehensive background checks, a bump-stock ban and raising the purchase age for certain firearms, while opposing confiscation of legally owned guns. He also describes himself as a strong Second Amendment supporter and is reported to carry an NRA-PVF 'AQ' rating and endorsement in 2026. No 2026 statement on Florida's red-flag law or the 21 purchase age was found.
Health care Leans disagree· based on record
Mast voted for H.R. 1, which added work-reporting requirements and more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid expansion enrollees and reduced projected federal Medicaid spending. No statement on expanding Medicaid in Florida or extending ACA subsidies was found.
Social Security & Medicare Leans agree· stated position
Mast's House website says he will not support changing Social Security for current retirees or workers near retirement; he has not addressed benefit changes for younger workers or new revenue.
"I will not support changing Social Security for current retirees or for workers near retirement."
Elections & voting Leans disagree· based on record
Mast voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. No statement on mail voting or drop boxes was found.
Energy & utilities Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which phased out most Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits and expanded oil and gas leasing.
Ukraine Leans disagree· stated position
As House Foreign Affairs chairman, Mast said in May 2026 he does not expect another U.S. security supplemental for Ukraine 'for $6 billion, $60 billion, or any other amount,' that Europe should take more responsibility because the war is 'in their backyard,' while the U.S. would continue intelligence support and allow weapons sales and transfers; in June 2026 he called a House-passed Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions bill 'unserious' and 'a cudgel to fight against President Trump.'
Trump administration Leans agree· stated position
Mast criticized a June 2026 Ukraine aid bill as 'a cudgel to fight against President Trump' and, as Foreign Affairs chairman, applauded the administration's U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal.
No public position found on 7 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Tariffs & trade, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- House Foreign Affairs Committee chairmanship — Chairs the committee; has backed additional Russia sanctions while opposing new large Ukraine aid packages, and praised the U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement.
- Seniors and Social Security pledge — Pledges not to change Social Security for current retirees or workers near retirement.
- Born-alive and taxpayer-funding abortion bills — Supported legislation to prohibit taxpayer funding of abortion and add protections for infants born alive after attempted abortion.
- 2018 assault-weapons position — After Parkland, wrote and said he would support a ban on new sales of assault-style weapons, a bump-stock ban and a higher purchase age.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted yes on final passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 3, 2025), which extended the 2017 tax cuts, funded border and immigration enforcement, and changed Medicaid and SNAP eligibility rules.
- Voted yes on S. 5, the Laken Riley Act (Jan. 22, 2025), requiring federal detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft-related and certain violent offenses.
- Voted yes on H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (Apr. 10, 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
- In 2018, after the Parkland shooting, publicly supported a ban on new sales of assault-style weapons, a bump-stock ban, expanded background checks and raising the purchase age for certain firearms (CBS12; Washington Post; The Hill).
- Said in May 2026 he does not expect Congress to pass another Ukraine security supplemental and called a June 2026 House Ukraine aid/sanctions bill 'unserious.'
- Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), the budget reconciliation law that extended the 2017 tax cuts, added Medicaid work requirements, reduced clean-energy tax credits and funded expanded immigration enforcement.