Jim Schwartzel
Jim Schwartzel is a Southwest Florida media executive and president of Sun Broadcasting. He won the ten-candidate Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary with 29.39% (26,140 votes), finishing more than 6,000 votes ahead of Trump-endorsed Catalina Lauf (about 22%). The seat opened when Rep. Byron Donalds ran for governor.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with 29.39% (26,140 votes) over Catalina Lauf (~22%) and eight others (WINK; Ballotpedia News)
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· stated position
Schwartzel says he would make the tax cuts permanent, keep taxes low, eliminate burdensome regulations, and start with 'an audit of everything Washington spends.'
Immigration Strongly agrees· stated position
Says his position is to 'secure the border, finish the wall and deport people who broke the law getting here,' and that he would work to ensure no future president can undo border security 'with a pen.'
"Secure the border, finish the wall and deport people who broke the law getting here."
Abortion Strongly disagrees· stated position
Describes himself as 'pro-life'; no statement on exceptions or on Florida's six-week law was captured.
Guns Strongly disagrees· stated position
Describes himself as 'pro-Second Amendment without apology'; no statement on red-flag laws or purchase age was captured.
Education & school choice Strongly agrees· stated position
Says 'education dollars should follow the child and parents, not Washington bureaucrats.'
Environment & water Leans agree· stated position
Says the federal government's jobs in the region include paying its share of Everglades restoration and reservoir projects on time and funding Army Corps work that protects estuaries and the coast; he also says he will fight 'outside political interest groups that threaten the environment.' He pairs this with cutting regulation on building.
Gender identity laws Leans agree· stated position
Says he will defend every American's rights 'while protecting girls' sports and keeping adult content away from kids'; no statement specifically on Florida's gender-affirming-care or classroom-instruction laws was found.
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· stated position
Says he would 'keep unleashing American energy' and cut regulatory red tape; no statement on renewable energy or utility-rate oversight was found.
Trump administration Leans agree· stated position
Calls the administration's border security 'consequential' and says he would fight to ensure no future president can undo it; he won the primary over Trump-endorsed Catalina Lauf.
No public position found on 8 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Health care, Social Security & Medicare, Elections & voting, Crime & policing, Tariffs & trade, Ukraine, 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
- Term limits — Supports congressional term limits.
- Audit of federal spending — Says he would 'start with an audit of everything Washington spends.'
- AI, social media and Big Tech — Supports no censorship of political speech, 'real protections for minors' and 'no blank check for Big Tech.'
- Everglades restoration and Army Corps funding — Wants federal money for Everglades and reservoir projects delivered on time and Army Corps estuary/coastal work funded.
- Faster disaster aid — Says disaster money should get out the door 'in weeks instead of years.'
- Regulatory red tape and building costs — Says cutting regulation that 'drives up the cost of building anything' is part of his affordability plan.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Won the ten-candidate Republican primary with 29.39% despite President Trump endorsing rival Catalina Lauf.