John Rutherford
John Rutherford, a former Jacksonville sheriff, has served in the U.S. House since 2017. He won the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary with about 68% over radio host Mark Kaye, per results posted by NewsForce on X (to be confirmed with the Division of Elections). He was endorsed by President Trump for 2026 and voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Laken Riley Act and the SAVE Act (congress.gov; rutherford.house.gov). He faces Democrat Rachel Grage in November.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with about 67.7% over Mark Kaye (32.3%), per a NewsForce post on X (https://x.com/Newsforce/status/2089942937538793937); verify against Division of Elections. Ballotpedia primary page: https://ballotpedia.org/Florida's_5th_Congressional_District_election,_2026_(August_18_Republican_primary)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $913,650, spent $851,256, cash on hand $240,063; $330,992 from individual donors, $569,500 from PACs. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2026-08. Report an error ↗
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
Voted for H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) in 2025, which extended the 2017 individual tax cuts and created new deductions (tips, overtime) while reducing projected federal spending on Medicaid and SNAP. His statement said the bill gives Americans 'a much-needed tax break' and 'historic tax relief for seniors'; his site maintains a 'Tax Cuts for Working Americans' page.
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted for the Laken Riley Act (Jan. 2025) and for H.R. 1, which he said would deliver on 'permanently closing the Southern Border'; has issued statements supporting Homeland Security appropriations and a CR to end a DHS shutdown.
"permanently closing the Southern Border"
Abortion Leans disagree· based on record
His statement on the FY2026 appropriations bills highlighted provisions to 'defund abortion-related travel' at the Department of War; Reproductive Freedom for All's scorecard tracks his votes as opposing abortion access. A statement on Florida's six-week ban was not found.
Health care Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which added Medicaid work-reporting requirements and other eligibility changes and did not extend the enhanced ACA premium subsidies; the vote is coded as leaning against expanding the federal role in coverage.
Social Security & Medicare Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), the 2024 law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, raising benefits for some public-sector retirees.
Elections & voting Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (April 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections; coded as supporting a new voting requirement rather than easing access.
Crime & policing Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
Gender identity laws Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), the 2025 bill barring a presidential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without an act of Congress; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward fossil-fuel production.
Ukraine Leans disagree· based on record
What The Vote records him voting 'No' on a 2026 measure authorizing additional Ukraine aid including up to $8 billion in military assistance via loans; he was not among the 18 House Republicans listed as voting for the June 4, 2026 Ukraine aid bill.
Trump administration Strongly agrees· stated position
Endorsed by President Trump for 2026; his statements describe H.R. 1 as 'delivering on promises made by President Trump' and he issued a statement supporting the administration's February 2026 Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
No public position found on 6 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Guns, Education & school choice, Environment & water, 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
- FY2026 appropriations — Voted for the final four full-year FY2026 funding bills, which he said fund combat-ready forces, a secure border, education and health systems and transportation.
- Operation Epic Fury (Iran) — Issued a February 2026 statement supporting U.S. military operations against Iran, citing the regime's terrorism sponsorship and nuclear program.
- DHS funding — Supported a continuing resolution to end a Department of Homeland Security shutdown and the FY25 Homeland Security appropriations bill.
- Congressional reform — Maintains an official 'Congress' issue page on his site.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted for H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (House passage May 22, 2025; final passage July 3, 2025, 218-214).
- Voted for S. 5, the Laken Riley Act (House passage Jan. 22, 2025, 263-156).
- Voted for H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (April 10, 2025, 220-208).
- Rutherford was not among the 18 House Republicans listed as voting for the June 4, 2026 Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions bill, which passed 226-195 over the objections of House GOP leadership and the Trump administration (individual 'no' vs. 'not voting' status not confirmed in searches).
- Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), the 2025 law requiring federal detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes and letting states sue over immigration enforcement.
- Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), the 2025 bill requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that made the 2017 tax cuts permanent and added new deductions while cutting Medicaid and food-assistance spending.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that added Medicaid work requirements and eligibility checks projected to reduce coverage.
- Voted for the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), the 2025 bill barring a presidential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without an act of Congress; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward fossil-fuel production.
- Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
- Voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 21), the 2025 bill setting criminal penalties for providers who fail to care for an infant born alive after an attempted abortion; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward more abortion restrictions.
- Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
- Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), the 2024 law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, raising benefits for some public-sector retirees.
- Voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, a War Powers Resolution directing the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran (Roll Call 307, Sept. 15, 2026; agreed to 220-204).
- Voted Yea on the motion to table H.Res. 1486, a resolution impeaching President Trump (Roll Call 298, Sept. 15, 2026; tabled 232-147 with 47 voting present). A Yea vote set the resolution aside; a Nay vote would have kept it before the House.
- Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 210 and Yea on H.J.Res. 213, Congressional Review Act resolutions disapproving EPA authorizations of California's at-berth ocean-going vessel and commercial harbor craft diesel-emission rules (Roll Calls 306 and 311, Sept. 15-16, 2026; passed 216-211 and 214-208).
- Co-signed the Moody-Buchanan letter asking the Department of War to increase Florida's National Guard allocation after Hurricane Isaias.
- 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.
Endorsements (as reported)
- President Donald Trump (2026)