Who's running in Florida's 5th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · John Rutherford currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Law and order, drawing on his career as Jacksonville sheriff.
Border security.
The administration's America First agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 5th District since January 2017; re-elected in 2024 with 63.1%.
Former sheriff of Jacksonville.
His office reports that in 2025 it helped more than 2,000 constituents with federal agencies, assisted over 300 veterans and servicemembers, and responded to more than 153,000 constituent communications.
Introduced 227 bills and co-sponsored more than 220 in 2025.
Endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Advanced from the August 18, 2026 Republican primary.
Arguments in favor
Forty years in law enforcement and three terms as Jacksonville's sheriff make him "a true public servant who has protected and defended our community for years" — someone who "knows our community, understands our issues, and delivers results" on law and order and border security.
— John Rutherford's campaign
His office does the unglamorous work: in 2025 it reports serving more than 2,000 constituents through the federal bureaucracy, assisting more than 300 veterans and service members, and answering more than 153,000 pieces of constituent mail and phone calls.
— John Rutherford's campaign
Arguments against
He has held no public town hall in nearly ten years, offering only by-appointment office meetings, and dismissed the format outright: these meetings "attract people who scream and holler and act like fools." More than a thousand constituents signed on to demand one in February 2025.
— William Upham, a Republican primary opponent, on his FL-5 accountability site; the constituent petition was organised through MoveOn
His output does not match the length of his tenure: few bills introduced and fewer still advancing, and a missed-vote rate above the median for sitting House members. He skipped a Memorial Day ceremony honouring veterans and Gold Star families that other local officials attended.
— William Upham, a Republican primary opponent
What we couldn’t verify
The legislative-output claim is contested: his own campaign reports 227 bills introduced and 220 cosponsored in 2025, while his primary opponent describes the output as minimal. Neither figure was independently verified from the sources found.
His committee assignments were not established from the sources found.
No Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee page about him by name was found; the criticism above comes from a Republican primary opponent and from constituent organising.
Affordability in northeast Florida, the issue she and her primary opponents all put first.
Keeping health insurance premiums and prescription costs down.
Protecting personal privacy and access to health care.
Equality under the law, and dignity and due process in immigration policy.
Defending coastal ecosystems and expanding conservation funding.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Bachelor's and graduate degrees from Tulane University.
Candidate for Florida House District 16 in 2024; lost with 39% to Republican incumbent Kiyan Michael.
Affiliated with Catholic Charities, Equality Florida and the Democratic Women's Club of Florida.
Won the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary against Mark Heggestad and Alex Hazen.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Grage by name could be found: not from John Rutherford or his campaign, not from the National Republican Congressional Committee, not from her Democratic primary opponents, and not from Jacksonville news coverage. Because no case against her exists on the record, none is presented for her either, rather than showing her own campaign's case unanswered.
She was the top Democratic fundraiser in the primary with $272,423 raised through July 29, against $726,727 for Rutherford; whether that gap has narrowed since was not established from the sources found.
Her positions on health care financing, immigration and taxation were not stated in material available.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Florida held its primary on August 18, 2026. Republican incumbent John Rutherford and Democrat Rachel Grage are the two candidates printed on the November ballot; one certified write-in candidate is not a printed choice and is not profiled here. Florida enacted a new congressional map in May 2026, but districts 1 through 7 were left unchanged; this one covers Jacksonville and northeast Florida. Roster from the Florida qualifying lists as reported by Politics1 and Wikipedia. Arguments are shown for Rutherford, whose record and accessibility have been publicly attacked, including by a Republican primary opponent. No published criticism of Grage by name was found, so neither column is filled for her; her positions and record are in her profile.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Florida ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Florida Division of Elections.