Businessman Jim Schwartzel has won the Republican primary for Florida’s 19th Congressional District, emerging from a crowded field of candidates seeking to replace Byron Donalds in the US House.
Schwartzel secured the nomination despite not receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Instead, his campaign benefited from support from influential Republicans, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan.
The result marked a setback for several high-profile candidates who entered the race with significant political baggage and, in some cases, national name recognition.
Trump backs Catalina Lauf late in campaign
Catalina Lauf received Trump’s endorsement late in the primary campaign, giving her a potentially significant boost in a contest where the president remains highly influential among Republican voters.
Despite that support, Schwartzel prevailed.
Former North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn also failed to translate his national profile into a strong showing. He finished with only single-digit support in the district, which covers much of Southwest Florida, including Fort Myers and Naples.
Former New York Congressman Chris Collins also finished well behind the leading candidates.
Cawthorn’s comeback attempt falls short
The Florida primary represented Cawthorn’s attempt to revive a congressional career that collapsed after a single turbulent term in Washington.
Cawthorn won his North Carolina seat in 2020 at the age of 25, becoming the youngest member of Congress at the time.
His tenure, however, was quickly overshadowed by a series of controversies, including driving violations, allegations involving members of Congress and the release of compromising photographs and videos.
His political fortunes deteriorated sharply in 2022 after he claimed that lawmakers had invited him to a Washington “orgy” and that he had witnessed prominent political figures using drugs.
Then-House Republican leaders publicly challenged his credibility, with Kevin McCarthy saying Cawthorn had exaggerated his allegations and had lost his trust.
Gun incidents and ethics investigation damaged Cawthorn
Cawthorn’s problems continued when firearms were discovered in his carry-on luggage at airports.
In February 2021, Transportation Security Administration officials found a gun in his luggage at Asheville Regional Airport, although he was not charged.
In April 2022, TSA officers discovered a loaded handgun in his carry-on at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Cawthorn ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to possessing a dangerous weapon on city property and was fined $250.
The controversies contributed to his defeat in the 2022 Republican primary, when he lost to Chuck Edwards.
An ensuing House Ethics Committee investigation examined several issues, including Cawthorn’s relationship with a congressional staffer and his promotion of cryptocurrency.
The committee did not substantiate the allegation involving the staffer but found that Cawthorn had promoted LGB Coin while maintaining a financial interest in it and had failed to make required financial disclosures. He was ordered to repay more than $14,000.
Cawthorn still attracted influential support
Despite his troubled record, Cawthorn entered the Florida contest with support from several conservative figures.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin backed his campaign, while Johnny Fratto, who had initially been a candidate in the race, withdrew and endorsed Cawthorn.
Conservative donors and activists also supported his comeback effort, including influencer Robby Starbuck, who helped raise money for the campaign.
By July, Cawthorn had gained attention as one of the more prominent contenders in the crowded primary based on fundraising, endorsements and local media coverage.
His eventual single-digit performance demonstrated the difficulty of converting national notoriety into electoral support in a new district.
Schwartzel invests heavily in his campaign
Schwartzel entered the race with considerable financial resources of his own.
The Florida businessman invested at least $1 million of his personal money into the campaign and received backing from political action committees associated with iHeartMedia and Salem Media.
He owns 92.5 FOX News Radio and Gulfshore Life Media, which publishes several media outlets serving Southwest Florida.
His combination of personal wealth, institutional Republican support and strong local connections helped him emerge from the crowded field.
Collins brought a presidential pardon into race
Chris Collins offered voters another candidate with national political experience but a controversial past.
The former New York congressman pleaded guilty to insider trading after prosecutors accused him of passing confidential information about an Australian biotechnology company to his son, who subsequently traded on the information.
Collins was sentenced in January 2020 to 26 months in federal prison and served part of his sentence at a federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida.
Trump pardoned him in December 2020.
After moving to Florida, Collins attempted to make a return to Congress by running in the state’s 19th District.
Another pardoned candidate sought nomination
The Republican field also included John Strand, a former actor and conservative activist who had been convicted for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Strand received a 32-month prison sentence and served approximately a year before being released in July 2024.
Trump later pardoned him in January 2025, allowing him to pursue his political ambitions again.
His presence added another unusual dimension to an already crowded Republican contest.
Schwartzel emerges from crowded field
The primary ultimately produced a clear winner in Schwartzel, despite the absence of a Trump endorsement.
His victory demonstrates that while presidential backing remains a powerful force in Republican primaries, it does not necessarily determine the outcome when candidates possess strong financial resources, influential endorsements and established local networks.
Schwartzel will now carry the Republican nomination into the next stage of the race to replace Donalds in Florida’s 19th Congressional District.
