The person behind the name
Casey Askar’s public life runs from a Marine Corps enlistment at eighteen to a Michigan-and-Florida restaurant franchise business and, in 2026, a second campaign for Congress, this time as the Republican nominee in a district drawn only months before the primary. [29][36][2][26]
He was born in Iraq — his legal name is Kousay Askar — and has said his family fled the country when he was seven; his campaign biography says the family “legally immigrated to the U.S., escaping religious persecution.” The biography says he is “a married father of seven children.” His restaurant company keeps its corporate office in Commerce Township, Michigan and a regional office in Naples, where he lives; state Senator Kathleen Passidomo, endorsing him, said he has lived in Collier County for more than twenty-five years. [28][35][1][36][21]
Education and professional preparation
His campaign biography says he is a product of public education whose first jobs were at McDonald’s and mopping floors at a CVS. His 2020 campaign announcement said he “attended Oakland College, served in the United States Marine Corps and later graduated from Harvard Business School.” The Harvard credential is the Owner/President Management program, an executive course that confers a certificate rather than a degree; the campaign said he completed the three-year program, exhibits to his later lawsuit showed that he took part in the program’s graduation on March 28, 2019 and received a certificate of completion, and the program catalog states that “Upon completion, participants will become alumni of Harvard Business School.” A complaint filed with the state attorney in June 2020 said he held no college degree. The 2026 campaign site claims no degree, and degree records were not part of this review. [1][31][32]
He enlisted in the Marine Corps at eighteen, by his own account. Records the National Personnel Records Center released to Florida Politics in August 2020, as the outlet reported them, show service in the Marine Corps Reserve from December 4, 1987 to November 27, 1988 and on active duty from November 28, 1988 to August 17, 1992, an assignment to the Headquarters and Service Battalion of the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California, a National Defense Service Medal and a sharpshooter badge, and discharge at the rank of private. Florida Politics noted that he has never claimed to be a combat veteran. The 2020 dispute over those records is described in the fuller record. [35][29][28]
The family restaurant company, Askar Brands, says it has been in business for more than twenty-five years and, by its own timeline, added pizza brands from 2006 to 2013 before becoming a Church’s Chicken franchisee in 2019 and a Dunkin’ franchisee in 2020 — “almost 100 restaurants across multiple states across both brands,” by its count. A September 2025 company press release names him founder and president. His campaign describes him as chairman and chief executive of Askar Family Office, “a company specializing in franchising, commercial real estate, energy, and construction,” and says he operates businesses in two dozen states. Those are the company’s and the campaign’s statements; no financial statement, ownership filing or payroll record was reviewed. [36][37][52][1]
He first ran for Congress in 2020, in the 19th District, and finished third of nine in the Republican primary with 20,774 votes, 20.0 percent, behind Byron Donalds and Dane Eagle, after a campaign financed largely by $6,500,000 in loans. [6][5]
On May 19, 2026, after the Legislature redrew Florida’s congressional map, he announced for the new 22nd District, and on August 18, 2026 he won the seven-way Republican primary with 14,774 votes, 30.9 percent, leading in Collier, Palm Beach and Hendry counties and trailing Michael Carbonara in Broward. He faces Pia Dandiya, who won the Democratic primary with 26,067 votes, 68.6 percent, on November 3, 2026. [18][2][3]
A note on the campaign’s superlatives. The biography says he “employs thousands of people in the district and across South Florida” and “operates businesses in two dozen states across the country.” Askar Brands counts almost 100 Church’s Chicken and Dunkin’ restaurants; this review found no independent document for the employment figure and records it as a claim. [1][37]
Life & public service
From a recruit depot in San Diego to a coast-to-coast House district, the documented milestones show what the record contains and what it does not.
The Marine Corps
Marine Corps Reserve from December 4, 1987; active duty from November 28, 1988 to August 17, 1992, with an assignment at Camp Pendleton; discharged as a private, per National Personnel Records Center records released to Florida Politics in August 2020. [29]
A first campaign, in the 19th District
Entered the race to succeed Representative Francis Rooney in March 2020, describing his life as “the embodiment of the American Dream.” [35]
Complaints and a records dispute
A June 4 complaint to the Federal Election Commission questioned the $3,000,000 bank line of credit behind his candidate loan; a June 23 complaint to the state attorney challenged the Harvard claim; in July a Navy records branch, answering a request that misspelled his legal name, could not identify him, and on August 13 the National Personnel Records Center produced his service record. [30][43][31][28][29]
Third in the primary
Received 20,774 votes, 20.0 percent, on August 18, 2020; Byron Donalds won with 23,492 and Dane Eagle had 22,715. [6]
A defamation suit against the winner
Sued Representative-elect Donalds on November 16, 2020, seeking $30,000, over Donalds’s election-day accusation that the Askar campaign had sent texts saying Donalds had dropped out; a judge sided with Donalds, The Hill reported, citing Forbes, and the Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court on June 11, 2024. [33][51][49]
An admonishment from the Commission
On April 28 the Federal Election Commission found reason to believe that his 2020 committee had not filed complete and accurate reports about the Northern Bank line of credit; on November 17 it rejected the committee’s signed conciliation agreement, admonished the committee and closed the file. [44][45][43]
Appeals affirmed against him; a franchise deal abroad
The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed rulings against him in his suits against Andrew Duskin, on April 23, 2024, and against Byron Donalds, on June 11, 2024. On September 12, 2025 Askar Brands announced an agreement with Franchise Arabia to open restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa; the release identified him as the company’s founder and president. [48][49][52][16]
Accomplishments, in the record
Military records, company statements, the Division of Elections’ canvasses and the Federal Election Commission’s filings and enforcement documents establish the following. Askar has never held public office, so there are no votes or bills; the record is military, professional and electoral, and it is described at the level those documents support.
Marine Corps service, 1987 to 1992, as the personnel records show
The National Personnel Records Center, answering a Freedom of Information Act request from Florida Politics, produced records on August 13, 2020 which, as the outlet reported them, show that Askar served in the Marine Corps Reserve from December 4, 1987 to November 27, 1988 and on active duty from November 28, 1988 to August 17, 1992, that he was assigned to the Headquarters and Service Battalion of the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, that he earned a National Defense Service Medal and a sharpshooter badge, and that he was discharged at the rank of private. The records themselves were not part of this review. [29]
The campaign’s own evidence was a boot-camp graduation photograph of Platoon 1125 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego in 1989, captioned with the surname spelled “Asker.” Askar: “I confirm that I am the individual in the Platoon 1125 1989 graduation photo.” The 2026 campaign biography says he “enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served honorably in defense of our great nation.” The dates, the assignment and the discharge are the personnel record as Florida Politics reported it; the characterization is the campaign’s. [28][1]
A pizza franchisor that became a chicken-and-doughnut franchisee
Askar Brands, with its corporate office in Commerce Township, Michigan and a regional office in Naples, describes itself as both franchisor and franchisee: “For over 25 years, the Askar Family has been creating long-lasting opportunities and memories for franchisees and guests.” Its pizza concepts include Papa Romano’s, Papa’s Pizza To Go, Breadeaux Pizza, Blackjack Pizza and Salads and, from 2024, Sarpino’s Pizzeria; “In 2019, we began our partnership as a franchisee with Church’s Chicken,” the company says, followed by Dunkin’ in 2020, for “almost 100 restaurants across multiple states across both brands.” Florida Politics adds Mr. Pita and CJ’s Brewing Company to the portfolio. [36][37][16]
On September 12, 2025 the company announced an agreement with Franchise Arabia to take its brands to the Middle East and North Africa. Askar’s statement in the release, which identified him as founder and president: “We’re excited to bring our brands to the MENA region and introduce our proven franchise systems to a new generation of entrepreneurs.” The release also describes the group as the franchisee for Dunkin’ in Southwest Florida and Church’s Chicken in Texas and Georgia. The campaign separately describes him as chairman and chief executive of Askar Family Office, spanning franchising, commercial real estate, energy and construction; he told The Floridian in September 2026 that he is in “the fuel distribution supply business.” Corporate filings were not retrieved for this review. [52][16][1][39]
Third of nine in the 19th District
The Division of Elections’ official results for the August 18, 2020 Republican primary in the 19th District record 23,492 votes for Byron Donalds, 22,715 for Dane Eagle, 20,774 for Askar and 19,075 for William Figlesthaler, with five other candidates sharing 17,901; Askar’s 20.0 percent placed him third, 2,718 votes behind the winner, both figures computed from the canvass. He carried neither county, trailing Donalds in Collier and Eagle in Lee. [6]
The Federal Election Commission’s summary for the 2020 cycle records total receipts of $7,259,691.99 for Casey Askar for Congress, of which $753,991.99 came from individuals and $6,500,000 from loans: $3,200,000 made by the candidate and $3,300,000 in other loans. Disbursements were $7,259,535.24, including $3,738,960.24 in operating expenditures, $220,575 in refunds and $3,300,000 in repayment of the other loans; the committee closed the year with $156.75 on hand and $3,362,393.52 in debts. The Commission’s enforcement file on the committee’s reporting of the bank line of credit behind the candidate’s loan closed in November 2022 with an admonishment; it is described in the fuller record. Florida Politics described the primary as one of the nastiest in the state that year. [5][43][45][34]
What the 2026 filings show
The Commission’s summary for Casey for Congress, covering June 5 through July 29, 2026, records total receipts of $2,567,760.00: $57,760.00 in contributions, all from individuals ($57,350.00 itemized and $410.00 unitemized), $10,000.00 transferred from another authorized committee and $2,500,000.00 in loans from the candidate. Disbursements were $1,519,363.96, of which $1,119,363.96 were operating expenditures and $400,000.00 repaid candidate loans; cash on hand was $1,048,396.04 and debts owed by the committee $2,100,000.00. The principal committee also sponsors a leadership PAC, Alligator Alley PAC, and the current statement of candidacy was filed September 10, 2026. The candidate identifier is H6FL22248 and the committee is C00952663. [4][8]
Florida Politics, reading the same filings, noted that all but $1,500 of the money he reported through June was his own loan, and that the two other leading candidates had also lent their campaigns most of their money, Carbonara $3,800,000 and Keiser $3,000,000 by the outlet’s count. Self-funding establishes the source of the money, not the candidate’s positions. [16][9]
A seven-way primary, won with a plurality
The Division of Elections’ official results for the August 18, 2026 Republican primary in the 22nd District record 14,774 votes for Askar, 9,072 for Michael Carbonara, 8,785 for Belinda Keiser, 7,505 for David Burck, 3,683 for Terri Hasdorff, 2,616 for Michael Thompson and 1,441 for Richard Evans, a total of 47,876 and a margin of 5,702 over Carbonara, both computed from the canvass: 30.9 percent for Askar, a plurality short of a majority. By county he received 7,549 votes in Collier, 3,127 in Palm Beach, 3,061 in Broward and 1,037 in Hendry, leading in every county but Broward, where Carbonara had 3,401. In the Democratic primary Pia Dandiya received 26,067 votes, 68.6 percent, to Kaysia Earley’s 11,947. [2][3]
A Victory Insights poll taken August 4 to 6 had put Keiser at 13.6 percent, Askar at 13.1 and Carbonara at 11.4, with 41.5 percent undecided; the Sun Sentinel’s editorial board had recommended Keiser. On primary night Askar said: “As a U.S. Marine veteran, proven job creator & rock-solid America First fighter — I am honored to be your FL-22 Republican nominee. I’ll fight for you, for Florida, and alongside President Trump. On to November!” [15][41][9]
From Bilirakis to Trump
Representative Gus Bilirakis was the first member of Congress to endorse in the primary, on June 1, 2026: “we must elect true conservatives like U.S. Marine veteran Casey Askar to the U.S. Congress.” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk followed on June 10 and former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo on June 29; CPAC endorsed him on July 8 as “A Marine and proven business leader.” The campaign site also lists retired Army Lieutenant General Mike Flynn, state Representative Yvette Benarroch and Marco Island City Council Chairman Darrin Palumbo. Club for Growth PAC, by contrast, endorsed Carbonara on August 11 and its affiliated super PAC, Club for Growth Action, ran a $700,000 advertising buy against Askar. [22][20][21][23][1][13][51]
After the primary, President Trump gave his “complete and total endorsement” on Truth Social, calling him “A Brave U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and now, as a successful Businessman,” and the NRCC named him to its MAGA Majority program on September 8 as “a job creator, family man, and Marine veteran.” Endorsements record support; they are not evaluations of the record above. [11][12]
A seat that did not exist in this form a year ago
The Legislature passed Governor DeSantis’s congressional map on April 29, 2026, in a special session that made Florida the eighth state to redraw its lines mid-decade in a push backed by President Trump; the governor signed it on May 4, and a lawsuit against it was filed the same day. The map’s House sponsor, Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka, told members that it did not align with Florida’s constitution but rested on a “viable legal theory.” The redrawn 22nd District runs across the peninsula through western Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry and Collier counties; Florida Politics put Trump’s 2024 share in it at about 54.6 percent and his margin at about 10.5 points, and the incumbent, Lois Frankel, moved to the 23rd District. Under the old lines she won the 2024 general election with 201,608 votes, 55.0 percent, to Dan Franzese’s 165,248. [26][27][9][24][7]
Both national committees treat the seat as a battleground: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named Dandiya to its Red to Blue program on July 28, and the NRCC placed Askar in MAGA Majority on September 8. Florida Politics reported on primary night that the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball both rated the race Lean Republican; the rating pages themselves could not be retrieved for this review. [25][12][9]
Family & community
His campaign biography identifies him as “a married father of seven children” and describes him as a family man; the campaign’s photographs show the family together. No other family detail appears in the campaign’s material, and none is asserted. [1]
The biography calls him a philanthropist and says his family “legally immigrated to the U.S., escaping religious persecution”; the 2020 campaign told the Naples Daily News he belonged to the Harvard Clubs of Naples, New York City and Boston. The sources reviewed here do not supply a verified record of charitable board service, and none is asserted. [1][31]
The biography says he “practices his Judeo-Christian values with his family and in his work.” Neither the biography nor the campaign site names a denomination or congregation, and this profile makes no further claim. [1]
Mission & priorities
“I will work to sponsor and pass pro-American legislation to keep building the American economy!” {1}
The following summarizes the agenda on Askar’s campaign website and in his public statements. These are proposed priorities from a candidate who has never held office, not completed accomplishments. [1]
01The cost of living, taxes and the gas tax
The campaign’s economy plank: “In Congress, Casey will work with leadership to help slash overburdening taxes and regulations that are adding to the affordability crisis.” In September 2026 he said he would file a “Cut the Fuel Tax” bill to reduce federal gasoline taxes permanently: “I think it’s a good start, but it’s a temporary fix. I want to do a long-term solution,” he said of a House Republican bill to suspend the tax through 2026. No replacement revenue for the Highway Trust Fund is identified in the material reviewed. [1][39]
02Election integrity
“Mandatory Real ID and immigration status verification to vote to protect our elections, so that only American citizens can vote.” The plank also promises to work to prevent foreign actors such as China and Russia from compromising election systems. [1]
03A stock-trading ban for members of Congress
The campaign says he “has invested in people, not stocks,” and lists a ban on stock trading by members of Congress among his priorities, together with exposing what it calls a culture of corruption in the federal government. At the Collier County Republican Executive Committee’s forum on June 20, 2026, every candidate on the stage agreed that such trading should stop. [1][40]
04Immigration and law enforcement
“We must continue to deport criminal illegal aliens and secure our borders, and all Points of Entry into the U.S.” The plank ties the illegal drug trade to illegal immigration, says “Merit-based America First immigration policy needs to be kept in place,” and promises to protect officers from what it calls predatory targeting by leftists, activist judges and prosecutors. Sheriff Rambosk cited that platform in endorsing him. [1][20]
05Energy
“We must unleash U.S. domestic energy production to power our economy and national security in order to reduce our reliance on foreign oil.” And: “Let’s expand oil, natural gas, nuclear, and clean coal production.” [1]
06Foreign policy and the military
“The U.S. must continue to push back against the Communist Chinese aggression in the Western Hemisphere and against our American interests around the world,” the campaign writes, with continued funding and modernization of the military and President Trump’s policy of peace through strength. Asked about Iran on the day he announced, he told WBBH: “I support not having a nuclear Iran. I support not having a terrorist state.” [1][19]
07Education and health care
“Parents should ultimately decide how to educate their children.” The education plank calls for required civics instruction and says “Biological boys do not belong in girl’s bathrooms.” On health care: “End Obamacare once and for all, and replace it with a vehicle that works for all Americans,” with Medicaid and Medicare preserved by cracking down on waste and fraud and all options on the table to lower drug and insurance costs. No replacement plan is specified. [1]
08Trump, the debt and the deficit
Announcing, he said Washington adds a trillion dollars of debt every ninety days and that “Washington is broken, and I know how to fix it. I’m a patriot who loves our country and a business leader with the skills to fix what’s broken in Washington.” Asked by WBBH how he would address a national debt above $39 trillion, he answered: “Creating more jobs. Growing the economy. Controlling spending. Doing the right thing. Basic fundamentals we all use in our home.” Asked about a $1.8 billion fund the administration had announced to compensate people who say past administrations wronged them, which the station said could include January rioters, he said, “We are in a position where we can't continue to spend. So I will always support my president,” adding that he was sympathetic to bystanders and had no sympathy for those who committed crimes. The Washington Examiner reported in June 2026 that a Florida congressional candidate had vowed to rename Interstate 75, Alligator Alley, the “President Donald J. Trump interstate”; the campaign’s website lists that report among its own news items. Those statements are the record; there is no vote to test them against. [18][19][38][1]
How to assess a proposal. A campaign plan states an intention. Enactment, implementation costs, replacement revenue, and measured results are separate questions. These priorities should be read alongside the legislative and voting history above.
The fuller record
A useful profile includes the questions a candidate has been asked, the limits of a claim, and responses to material criticism.
The military-records dispute of 2020
In July 2020 Florida Politics obtained a Department of the Navy letter, answering a public-records request made under a misspelling of his first name, which stated that its records branch “was not able to identify Mr. Askar as a member or former member of the U.S. Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve based upon the information provided in your request.” The campaign answered with boot-camp photographs and a 1989 platoon yearbook page bearing the name “C. Asker,” and its consultant Kristin Davison said of the spelling, “He was born in Iraq. His name has been translated and misspelled on legal and official documents his entire life since becoming a U.S. citizen.” The campaign did not produce his discharge papers. On August 13, 2020 the National Personnel Records Center supplied the outlet with records confirming the reserve and active-duty dates, the Camp Pendleton assignment, the medal and badge, and discharge as a private. The service is documented as the outlet reported it; the records place him at Camp Pendleton, the campaign said he served there throughout, and he never claimed to be a combat veteran. [28][29]
The Harvard credential, the criminal complaint and the Duskin suit
On June 23, 2020 Andrew Duskin filed a complaint with the state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit alleging that Askar had misrepresented his education, a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida; his March 2020 release had said he “attended Oakland College, served in the United States Marine Corps and later graduated from Harvard Business School.” “He has no college degree at all,” the complaint said. State Attorney Amira Fox, who had endorsed rival Dane Eagle, asked the governor to assign the matter to another office, and Governor DeSantis assigned it to State Attorney Ed Brodsky of the 12th Judicial Circuit by executive order on July 1. The campaign’s answer: “Casey Askar graduated Harvard Business School, completing the three-year OPM program,” a non-degree executive program whose catalog says participants become alumni on completion; graduation materials filed as exhibits to his lawsuit show that he took part in the graduation on March 28, 2019 and received a certificate of completion. The sources reviewed report no charge, and the state attorney’s disposition of the complaint was not found. Askar sued Duskin for defamation in Collier County in July 2020; in August 2020 the clerk entered a default after Duskin failed to respond, and Askar’s lawyer said he would seek damages. Askar later appealed a ruling of the circuit court in the case, and on April 23, 2024 the Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed it without opinion. [31][32][29][48]
The Northern Bank line of credit and the Federal Election Commission
Stan Carter of St. James City complained to the Commission on June 4, 2020 that Askar had obtained a $3,000,000 loan at no interest from Northern Bank & Trust Company, secured by companies he did not own alone, and directed it to his campaign; the complaint said the loan “reeks of fraud to the highest degree,” and noted that the bank’s chief executive, James Mawn, and his wife had each given $5,600 to the campaign. The campaign told Florida Politics that the money was drawn on a personal line of credit the candidate had held through the bank for years: “The bank didn’t loan money to the campaign,” Davison said. “Casey has a line of credit. Those are his personal funds.” The Commission’s file, Matter Under Review 7745, records what the loan documents the committee supplied in its own response showed. On January 15, 2020, six weeks before he announced, Askar and four limited-liability companies in which he held a 99 percent interest secured a $5,000,000 line of credit from the bank at the greater of 6.5 percent or the prime rate plus 1.5 percent, collateralized by mortgages on four parcels and with the companies jointly and severally liable; the one-percent minority partners, Bassam Askar and Alexander Askar, sold their shares to him for $10 per company on February 1, 2020; neither he nor the companies had drawn on the line before he withdrew $3,000,000 after his announcement and lent it to the committee on March 30, 2020, at no interest. The General Counsel’s office recommended reason-to-believe findings against the committee for its reporting, against the bank for a prohibited corporate contribution and against the companies and the minority partners for excessive contributions. On April 28, 2022 the Commission voted 6–0 to find reason to believe that Casey Askar for Congress and its treasurer had failed to file complete and accurate reports about the line of credit — the first report omitted the bank’s interest rate, did not list the companies as co-borrowers or guarantors and stated that no other party was secondarily liable — and authorized conciliation; the file’s disposition table lists every respondent, the committee included, as dismissed. The committee signed a conciliation agreement, which the General Counsel’s office recommended accepting; on November 17, 2022 the Commission voted 6–0 to reject it, to admonish the committee for an apparent violation “by failing to file complete and accurate reports regarding the line of credit from Northern Bank,” and to close the file. The agreement’s terms are redacted in the public file, and no civil penalty appears in it. In August 2026 Club for Growth Action cited the complaint in advertising against him, and The Hill reported the 2022 finding in the words of the Commission’s reason-to-believe analysis. [30][44][46][43][47][45][13][51]
Election-day texts and the suit against Byron Donalds
On primary day in 2020 a text message went to district voters claiming Donalds had dropped out. Donalds posted, “A text message just went out from a rival campaign, and I know whose campaign it is,” and named Askar’s. The Askar campaign replied that “Byron Donalds is 100% wrong” and that “The Askar campaign has sent 0 text messages today.” Florida Politics reported that the amount Askar later sought, $30,000, was roughly a late expenditure by the super PAC Honesty America to a text-messaging firm, and that the PAC and the firm were closely tied to people in Askar’s campaign. Askar’s defamation complaint, filed November 16, 2020, alleged that Donalds had staged the texts as a “final, illegal act of election interference.” Donalds declined to comment. A Florida judge sided with Donalds, The Hill reported in 2026, citing Forbes; Askar appealed, and on June 11, 2024 the Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s ruling without opinion; the same panel issued a second one-word affirmance the same day in an appeal Donalds had brought against Askar. Club for Growth Action cited the suit in its 2026 advertising against him. [33][34][51][49][50][13]
Self-funding, residence and the primary’s attack sites
Askar loaned his 2026 campaign $2,500,000 against $57,760 from individual donors. Belinda Keiser, herself self-funded, called him a “liberal joker” and financed a website, The Dubai Duo, attacking his company’s Franchise Arabia agreement; an anonymous site that Florida Politics said was traced to servers outside the country attacked his military record and his personal life, which Keiser’s campaign denied any part in. Keiser and Club for Growth Action’s advertising said he does not live in the district, and The Floridian, an opinion-driven outlet, reported that after redistricting his Naples home lies just outside its line; the Constitution requires a representative to inhabit the state, not the district. His campaign manager, Anthony Bustamante, answered that “Beijing Belinda Keiser has reverted to bogus and desperate attacks against the only true conservative and Republican in the race because she is polling 3rd.” Keiser’s spokeswoman said the attacks on Keiser were “ridiculous and desperate.” The canvass settled the argument at 14,774 votes to 8,785. [4][17][16][10][51][54][2]
The general election: polls, ratings and an untested district
A poll released by House Majority PAC, which describes itself as fighting for a Democratic majority in the House, and conducted by Impact Research from August 24 to 31, put Dandiya at 46 percent and Askar at 44, with the generic ballot tied at 46; Dandiya’s campaign site reposts it, and no independent public poll appears in the sources reviewed. Florida Politics reported the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball at Lean Republican and Trump’s 2024 margin in the new district at about 10.5 points; the DCCC put Dandiya in Red to Blue on July 28, and the NRCC’s spokeswoman called her campaign “dead on arrival in this Republican stronghold.” Dandiya’s site describes her as born and raised in Palm Beach County, a former teacher and principal, a White House Fellow at the Department of Education and a public-sector lead at Apple; her votes, like his, do not exist to be read. [14][53][42][9][24][25]
Questions & answers
Who is Casey Askar?
Casey Askar’s public life runs from a Marine Corps enlistment at eighteen to a Michigan-and-Florida restaurant franchise business and, in 2026, a second campaign for Congress, this time as the Republican nominee in a district drawn only months before the primary. [29][36][2][26] He was born in Iraq — his legal name is Kousay Askar — and has said his family fled the country when he was seven; his campaign biography says the family “legally immigrated to the U.S., escaping religious persecution.” The biography says he is “a married father of seven children.” His restaurant company keeps its corporate office in Commerce Township, Michigan and a regional office in Naples, where he lives; state Senator Kathleen Passidomo, endorsing him, said he has lived in Collier County for more than twenty-five years. [28][35][1][36][21]
What office is Casey Askar running for in 2026?
Who is Casey Askar running against?
On May 19, 2026, after the Legislature redrew Florida’s congressional map, he announced for the new 22nd District, and on August 18, 2026 he won the seven-way Republican primary with 14,774 votes, 30.9 percent, leading in Collier, Palm Beach and Hendry counties and trailing Michael Carbonara in Broward. He faces Pia Dandiya, who won the Democratic primary with 26,067 votes, 68.6 percent, on November 3, 2026. [18][2][3]
What are Casey Askar's stated priorities?
The following summarizes the agenda on Askar’s campaign website and in his public statements. These are proposed priorities from a candidate who has never held office, not completed accomplishments. [1] The campaign lists: The cost of living, taxes and the gas tax; Election integrity; A stock-trading ban for members of Congress; Immigration and law enforcement; Energy; Foreign policy and the military; Education and health care; Trump, the debt and the deficit.
What does the public record show?
Military records, company statements, the Division of Elections’ canvasses and the Federal Election Commission’s filings and enforcement documents establish the following. Askar has never held public office, so there are no votes or bills; the record is military, professional and electoral, and it is described at the level those documents support. The National Personnel Records Center, answering a Freedom of Information Act request from Florida Politics, produced records on August 13, 2020 which, as the outlet reported them, show that Askar served in the Marine Corps Reserve from December 4, 1987 to November 27, 1988 and on active duty from November 28, 1988 to August 17, 1992, that he was assigned to the Headquarters and Service Battalion of the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, that he earned a National Defense Service Medal and a sharpshooter badge, and that he was discharged at the rank of private. The records themselves were not part of this review. [29]
How was this profile researched?
Reviewed September 17, 2026. Casey Askar has never held public office, so this profile contains no votes, bills or agency actions; it is a documented overview of his military, business and electoral record and his stated priorities. His service dates were read from a newspaper’s account of National Personnel Records Center records, not from the records themselves; the business was read from the company’s own site and press release and from reporting, not from corporate filings, contracts or payroll records, which were not part of this review. The Federal Election Commission’s enforcement file on his 2020 committee was read from the Commission’s public documents, in which the terms of the rejected conciliation agreement are redacted. The 2020 lawsuits are described from reporting and from the appellate court’s one-word affirmances, which do not state the circuit court’s reasoning; the state attorney’s disposition of the 2020 criminal complaint was not found in the sources reviewed. Election ratings are cited as Florida Politics reported them because the rating pages could not be retrieved. His candidate financial disclosure filed with the Clerk of the House, tax records, business holdings and degree records were not part of this review. Numerical claims retain their original meaning and attribution. Filings and campaign pages may change after this review.
Sources & methodology
Government records anchor the profile: the Florida Division of Elections’ official results for two primaries and a general election, the Federal Election Commission’s filings and its enforcement file, and three appellate affirmances in the lawsuits of the first campaign. Military records reached the profile through a newspaper’s public-records request; company statements establish the business at the level a company’s own site and press release can; original reporting supplies the disputes, responses and scrutiny; campaign materials are used for the candidate’s own priorities and claims.
- 01Casey Askar for Congress (campaign home page: biography, issues, endorsements)Casey for Congress (campaign) · Accessed September 17, 2026
Campaign biography (immigration, public education, Marine Corps, Askar Family Office, seven children, Judeo-Christian values), the issue planks quoted in this profile, listed endorsers and the site’s linked social accounts. Self-descriptions.Campaign or advocacy material - 02August 18, 2026 Primary Election — Republican Primary, United States Representative, District 22 (official results by county)Florida Department of State, Division of Elections · Official results, 2026 primary
Askar 14,774 (30.9%); Carbonara 9,072; Keiser 8,785; Burck 7,505; Hasdorff 3,683; Thompson 2,616; Evans 1,441; county totals for Broward, Collier, Hendry and Palm Beach.Government record - 03August 18, 2026 Primary Election — Democratic Primary, United States Representative, District 22 (official results by county)Florida Department of State, Division of Elections · Official results, 2026 primary
Dandiya 26,067 (68.6%); Earley 11,947.Government record - 04ASKAR, CASEY — candidate overview, 2026 (H6FL22248)Federal Election Commission · Accessed September 17, 2026
Financial summary for June 5 to July 29, 2026: receipts, individual contributions, candidate loans, disbursements, loan repayments, cash on hand and debts; principal committee Casey for Congress; Alligator Alley PAC; statement of candidacy filed September 10, 2026.Government record - 05ASKAR, CASEY — candidate overview, 2020 (H0FL19221)Federal Election Commission · Accessed September 17, 2026
2020 cycle: receipts $7,259,691.99; individual contributions $753,991.99; candidate loans $3,200,000; other loans $3,300,000; disbursements, refunds, repayments, year-end cash and debts for Casey Askar for Congress.Government record - 06August 18, 2020 Primary Election — Republican Primary, United States Representative, District 19 (official results by county)Florida Department of State, Division of Elections · Official results, 2020 primary
Donalds 23,492 (22.6%); Eagle 22,715; Askar 20,774 (20.0%); Figlesthaler 19,075; Henderson 7,858; McLaughlin 4,245; Severson 3,197; Aquino 1,466; Kowal 1,135; Collier and Lee county totals.Government record - 07November 5, 2024 General Election — Federal Offices (official results)Florida Department of State, Division of Elections · Official results, 2024 general election
District 22 under the previous map: Lois Frankel 201,608 (55.0%); Dan Franzese 165,248 (45.0%).Government record - 08Candidate master file, 2025–2026 cycle (cn26.zip)Federal Election Commission (bulk data) · Accessed September 17, 2026
Candidate identifiers H6FL22248 (Askar, 2026, FL-22) and H0FL19221 (Askar, 2020, FL-19), each linked to principal committee C00952663; Dandiya H6FL21059.Government record - 09Casey Askar, Pia Dandiya to compete for new CD 22 seat after winning their Primary races TuesdayFlorida Politics (Jesse Scheckner; Jacob Ogles contributing) · August 18, 2026
Primary-night results and statements; the district’s composition and 2024 presidential vote; the Cook and Sabato ratings; the primary’s self-funding and attack websites; NRCC Chair Hudson’s statement.Independent reporting - 10CD 22 Primary candidate field spans 9 contenders, millions in campaign cashFlorida Politics (Jesse Scheckner) · August 4, 2026
Pre-primary survey of the field: Askar as a Naples real estate executive and Marine veteran, his 2020 finish and suit against Donalds, his $2,500,000 in loans, the anonymous website.Independent reporting - 11Donald Trump backs eight GOP candidates for Congress in Florida open and battleground districtsFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · September 2, 2026
The Truth Social endorsement quoted in the profile, describing him as a Marine Corps veteran and a successful businessman. The article misplaces Askar in the 25th District; he is the 22nd District nominee.Independent reporting - 12NRCC Announces Latest Additions to ‘MAGA Majority’ Program as GOP Expands 2026 MapNational Republican Congressional Committee · September 8, 2026
Askar (FL-22) added to the MAGA Majority program, described by the committee as a job creator, family man and Marine veteran. Party committee release.Campaign or advocacy material - 13Club for Growth PAC Endorses Michael Carbonara in FL-22 RaceClub for Growth · August 11, 2026
The rival endorsement and Club for Growth Action’s $700,000 ad buy about Askar’s FEC complaint and his suit against Donalds; reproduces excerpts of The Hill’s report. Advocacy source.Independent analysis or rating - 14HMP Poll: Pia Dandiya Leads Casey Askar in FL-22House Majority PAC (Impact Research) · September 9, 2026
Poll of August 24–31 released by the PAC: Dandiya 46, Askar 44; generic ballot 46–46; informed ballot 49–44.Independent analysis or rating - 15Poll: GOP Primary in CD 22 remains a 3-way toss-up as Election Day approachesFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · August 7, 2026
Victory Insights survey of August 4–6: Keiser 13.6%, Askar 13.1%, Carbonara 11.4%, 41.5% undecided.Independent reporting - 16New site slams Casey Askar, Michael Carbonara business dealings in DubaiFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · July 29, 2026
The Keiser-funded site; Askar Brands’ portfolio (Papa Romano’s & Mr. Pita, Blackjack, CJ’s Brewing, Church’s and Dunkin’ locations); the Franchise Arabia agreement and Askar’s September statement; all but $1,500 of his funds from his own loan.Independent reporting - 17Florida’s Republican Race in CD 22 Filled With Sexual Assault Claims, Love for Communist China, and Illegal WebsitesThe Floridian (Javier Manjarres) · July 28, 2026
The anonymous anti-Askar website and Keiser’s attacks (“liberal joker”); the report that his home sits just outside the district after redistricting; campaign manager Anthony Bustamante’s response; Keiser’s spokeswoman’s response. Opinionated coverage, used for the quoted statements.Independent reporting - 18Businessman, Veteran Casey Askar Announces Run for Congress in Florida’s 22nd DistrictThe Floridian (Javier Manjarres) · May 19, 2026
The announcement statement quoted in the profile, including his description of Washington as broken, the debt figures and the phrase prosperity society.Independent reporting - 19Republican businessman Casey Askar launches bid for Florida’s District 22 seat, backing Trump agendaWBBH Gulf Coast News (Dave Elias) · May 19, 2026
Launch interview: the debt, Iran and the proposed compensation fund, including his statement that he would always support the President.Independent reporting - 20Kevin Rambosk endorses Casey Askar for Congress in CD 22Florida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · June 10, 2026
The Collier County sheriff’s endorsement and his statement on public safety; Askar’s 2020 loss to Donalds.Independent reporting - 21Kathleen Passidomo gives Casey Askar a hometown boost in CD 22Florida Politics (Peter Schorsch) · June 29, 2026
The former Senate President’s endorsement, including her statement that he has lived in Collier County for more than 25 years.Independent reporting - 22Casey Askar Scores Congressional Endorsement From Rep. Gus BilirakisThe Floridian (Javier Manjarres) · June 1, 2026
The first congressional endorsement in the primary, quoted; Askar’s statement that he would put in “whatever it takes.”Independent reporting - 23Top Conservative Group CPAC Endorses ‘Proven Conservative’ Casey Askar for CongressThe Floridian (Javier Manjarres) · July 9, 2026
CPAC’s July 8 endorsement post, quoted, and Askar’s reply.Independent reporting - 2411 races to watch in South Florida ahead of the General ElectionFlorida Politics (Jesse Scheckner) · August 21, 2026
CD 22 entry: Askar as a Marine veteran with businesses in franchising, real estate, construction and energy; Trump’s 2024 margin of about 10.5 points; Dandiya’s background.Independent reporting - 25DCCC names Pia Dandiya to Red to Blue program in effort to defend open CD 22 seatFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · July 28, 2026
The DCCC designation; NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole’s statement calling Dandiya’s campaign dead on arrival in a Republican stronghold.Independent reporting - 26Florida Legislature passes redistricting plan creating four additional GOP-leaning House seatsNBC News (Matt Dixon) · April 29, 2026
Passage of the governor’s map on April 29, 2026; the sponsor’s acknowledgment that it does not align with Florida’s constitution; the districts of Moskowitz and Wasserman Schultz transformed.Independent reporting - 27DeSantis signs Florida redistricting map, drawing quick legal challengeTampa Bay Times (Romy Ellenbogen) · May 4, 2026
The governor’s signature on Monday, May 4, 2026 and the Equal Ground Education Fund lawsuit filed the same day. Article body read from the page’s structured data; the visible page is behind a subscription wall.Independent reporting - 28Why are questions being raised about CD 19 candidate Casey Askar’s military record?Florida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · July 19, 2020 (updated August 13, 2020)
The Navy letter, the platoon photograph, the name spellings (Kousay Askar; “C. Asker”), the Harvard and FEC complaints; the update reporting the National Personnel Records Center’s dates.Independent reporting - 29As campaign seasons winds down, controversies surrounding Casey Askar clear upFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · August 16, 2020
NPRC records as reported: reserve December 4, 1987 to November 27, 1988; active duty November 28, 1988 to August 17, 1992; Camp Pendleton; National Defense Service Medal; sharpshooter badge; discharged a private. The clerk’s default in the Duskin defamation case and the lawyer’s statement that damages would be sought.Independent reporting - 30Complaint alleges Casey Askar bankrolled with improper loanFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · June 9, 2020
Stan Carter’s FEC complaint over the $3,000,000 Northern Bank & Trust line of credit, the co-owned companies (including brother Sam Askar), the bank executive’s donations, and the campaign’s response.Independent reporting - 31State attorney requests governor reassign criminal complaint against congressional candidate Casey AskarNaples Daily News (Devan Patel) · July 1, 2020
The Duskin complaint on the Harvard claim; the campaign’s statement that he completed the three-year OPM program and belongs to three Harvard clubs; State Attorney Fox’s recusal request; the FEC complaint’s filing date.Independent reporting - 32Congressional candidate Casey Askar suing man who filed criminal complaint against himNaples Daily News (Devan Patel) · July 13, 2020
The defamation suit in Collier County; the governor’s July 1 executive order assigning the complaint to State Attorney Ed Brodsky; the March 28, 2019 OPM graduation and the catalog’s alumni language.Independent reporting - 33Casey Askar sues Byron Donalds for defamationFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · November 18, 2020
The November 16, 2020 complaint seeking $30,000; the election-day texts; Donalds’s accusation and the campaign’s denial; the Honesty America expenditure; Donalds’s 777-vote margin.Independent reporting - 34Byron Donalds pulls out win in pricey CD 19 Republican primaryFlorida Politics (Jacob Ogles) · August 19, 2020
The 2020 primary as reported on election night: the negative campaign, the text blast, Club for Growth Action’s spending for Donalds.Independent reporting - 35Casey Askar Joins Crowded GOP Primary Field Looking to Replace Francis Rooney in Southwest FloridaFlorida Daily (Kevin Derby) · March 23, 2020
His 2020 entry statement: fleeing Iraq at seven, enlisting in the Marines at eighteen, and his description of his life as the embodiment of the American Dream.Independent reporting - 36Askar Brands (company home page)Askar Brands · Accessed September 17, 2026
Corporate office in Commerce Township, Michigan; regional office in Naples; “For over 25 years”; brand timeline from Papa Romano’s (2006) to Sarpino’s Pizzeria (2024). Company self-description.Professional or biographical source - 37About Askar BrandsAskar Brands · Accessed September 17, 2026
First pizza brand in 2006; Church’s Chicken franchisee from 2019; Dunkin’ from 2020; the company’s count of almost 100 restaurants across both brands. Company self-description.Professional or biographical source - 38Congressional candidate says he would rename I-75 to honor TrumpWashington Examiner (Kiara Moore) · June 18, 2026
The Interstate 75 renaming pledge; the visible text does not name the candidate, and the campaign site lists the report under its own news. Article body behind a subscription wall.Independent reporting - 39Casey Askar Promises A Permanent Reduction of The Federal Gas TaxThe Floridian (Joseph Quesada) · September 16, 2026
The “Cut the Fuel Tax” pledge in his own words, including his description of being in the fuel distribution supply business.Independent reporting - 40Republican Congressional Candidates in Florida’s 22 District Finally Share the StageThe Floridian (Javier Manjarres) · June 21, 2026
The June 20, 2026 Collier County Republican Executive Committee forum; all candidates agreed congressional stock trading should stop. Opinionated coverage, used for the forum’s facts.Independent reporting - 41In U.S. House District 22 primaries, Keiser and Dandiya | EndorsementSun Sentinel Editorial Board · July 10, 2026
The editorial board’s recommendation of Keiser in the Republican primary and Dandiya in the Democratic primary. Text behind a subscription wall; the recommendation is in the visible summary.Independent analysis or rating - 42Pia Dandiya for Congress (campaign home page)Pia for Congress (campaign) · Accessed September 17, 2026
The opponent’s own biography: Palm Beach County native, teacher and principal, White House Fellow, Apple. Self-description.Campaign or advocacy material - 43MUR 7745 (Casey Askar for Congress) — case summary, dispositions and documentsFederal Election Commission · Closed November 17, 2022
Respondents (the committee, Askar, Bassam and Alexander Askar, four LLCs, Northern Bank & Trust Company, James Mawn, the treasurer); complainant Stanley Carter; the 6–0 reason-to-believe vote on reporting, the rejected conciliation agreement, the admonishment and the closing of the file; every respondent listed as dismissed.Government record - 44MUR 7745 — Notification with Factual and Legal Analysis to Casey Askar for CongressFederal Election Commission · June 13, 2022
The Commission’s findings: the $5,000,000 line of credit of January 15, 2020, its interest rate and collateral, the $3,000,000 draw lent to the committee on March 30, 2020, and the omissions in the committee’s first report.Government record - 45MUR 7745 — Notification to Casey Askar for Congress and Rob Phillips III in his official capacity as treasurerFederal Election Commission · November 18, 2022
The letter reporting the November 17, 2022 vote to reject the signed conciliation agreement and close the file, and admonishing the committee for an apparent reporting violation.Government record - 46MUR 7745 — First General Counsel’s ReportFederal Election Commission · December 7, 2020
The Office of General Counsel’s analysis and recommendations: Askar’s 99 percent interest in the four LLCs, the minority partners’ sale of their shares for $10 per company on February 1, 2020, and the recommended findings against the committee, the bank and the companies.Government record - 47MUR 7745 — Recommendation to Accept the Signed Conciliation AgreementFederal Election Commission · October 21, 2022
The General Counsel’s memorandum recommending that the Commission accept the committee’s signed conciliation agreement; the agreement’s terms are redacted in the public copy.Government record - 48Casey Askar v. Andrew Duskin, No. 6D23-1814 (per curiam affirmance)Sixth District Court of Appeal of Florida (opinion hosted by Justia) · April 23, 2024
Askar, as appellant, against Duskin; appeal from the Circuit Court for Collier County, Judge Joseph G. Foster, lower tribunal 2020-CA-002145; affirmed without opinion.Government record - 49Casey Askar v. Byron Donalds, No. 6D23-465 (per curiam affirmance)Sixth District Court of Appeal of Florida (opinion hosted by Justia) · June 11, 2024
Askar, as appellant, against Donalds; appeal from the Circuit Court for Collier County, Judge Elizabeth V. Krier; affirmed without opinion.Government record - 50Byron Donalds v. Casey Askar, No. 6D23-2042 (per curiam affirmance)Sixth District Court of Appeal of Florida (opinion hosted by Justia) · June 11, 2024
Donalds, as appellant, against Askar; appeal from the Circuit Court for Collier County, Judge Joseph G. Foster, lower tribunal 2020-CA-003678; affirmed without opinion by the same panel on the same day.Government record - 51Club for Growth Action endorses Carbonara in Florida GOP primary for redistricted House seatThe Hill (Caroline Vakil), syndicated by Yahoo News · August 11, 2026
The $700,000 ad buy and the ad’s words about Askar; the report, citing Forbes, that a Florida judge sided with Donalds in the defamation suit; The Hill’s account of the 2022 Commission finding in the reason-to-believe language.Independent reporting - 52Askar Brands (USA) signs agreement with Franchise Arabia to expand presence in MENA (company press release)Nation’s Restaurant News (press release) · September 12, 2025
The Franchise Arabia agreement, Askar’s statement as founder and president, the brand portfolio, and the group’s Dunkin’ and Church’s Chicken franchise territories. Company self-description.Professional or biographical source - 53House Majority PAC (home page)House Majority PAC · Accessed September 17, 2026
The PAC’s self-description as fighting for a Democratic majority in the House, establishing the poll’s sponsorship. Advocacy source.Campaign or advocacy material - 54The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription (Article I, Section 2)National Archives and Records Administration · Accessed September 17, 2026
The qualification that a representative be, when elected, an inhabitant of the state in which chosen; no district-residence requirement.Government record
No matching sources. Try “Clerk,” “Senate,” or “campaign.”
Scope & method. Reviewed September 17, 2026. Casey Askar has never held public office, so this profile contains no votes, bills or agency actions; it is a documented overview of his military, business and electoral record and his stated priorities. His service dates were read from a newspaper’s account of National Personnel Records Center records, not from the records themselves; the business was read from the company’s own site and press release and from reporting, not from corporate filings, contracts or payroll records, which were not part of this review. The Federal Election Commission’s enforcement file on his 2020 committee was read from the Commission’s public documents, in which the terms of the rejected conciliation agreement are redacted. The 2020 lawsuits are described from reporting and from the appellate court’s one-word affirmances, which do not state the circuit court’s reasoning; the state attorney’s disposition of the 2020 criminal complaint was not found in the sources reviewed. Election ratings are cited as Florida Politics reported them because the rating pages could not be retrieved. His candidate financial disclosure filed with the Clerk of the House, tax records, business holdings and degree records were not part of this review. Numerical claims retain their original meaning and attribution. Filings and campaign pages may change after this review.
Images. Conservative Ledger masthead supplied by the site creator. The candidate portrait is a crop of the family photograph published on the campaign’s own website, caseyaskar.com; it is a campaign-owned photograph, reproduced here pending the owner’s decision and credited beneath the image. Wikimedia Commons holds a file described as a Marine Corps-era portrait of Askar, marked public domain by its uploader; it was not used because it is a boot-camp photograph from about 1989 rather than a current likeness and its license rests on the uploader’s assertion. Inclusion does not imply campaign authorization or endorsement of this publication.
Where to find the candidate
Every link below was read from the campaign’s own website or the candidate’s official government page. A follower count is printed only where it was measured; otherwise the link is published and the number is left blank rather than guessed at.
Voting in Florida: official dates, deadlines and rules
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The dates and rules below were read from the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections; the authority's own page, linked beside each one, is the final word.
Dates and deadlines
- Voter registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026 is the deadline to register to vote (book closing) for the November 3, 2026 general election. State law closes the registration books on the 29th day before each election. The cutoff depends on how you apply (online, by mail or in person); see the items that follow. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/election-dates
- Online registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) to submit an electronic application through RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, according to the Division of Elections' online voter registration FAQ (updated August 2022). The FAQ adds that an application submitted after the deadline is still processed and takes effect for the next election. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/706383/ovr-faq-eng-v20220801-final.pdf
- Registration deadline by mail (postmark)A paper application sent by mail must be postmarked no later than October 5, 2026, the 29th day before the election, according to the Division of Elections' online voter registration FAQ (updated August 2022). Mail the statewide application (Form DS-DE 39) to your county Supervisor of Elections. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/706383/ovr-faq-eng-v20220801-final.pdf
- Registration deadline in personA paper application delivered in person must be submitted by close of business in your county of residence on October 5, 2026, according to the Division of Elections' online voter registration FAQ (updated August 2022). In-person options listed by the Division: any County Supervisor of Elections' office, any tax collector's office or other office that issues Florida driver licenses or Florida identification cards (through an electronic intake process), and any designated voter registration agency (per the Division's 2026 Voter Registration and Voting Guide). Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/706383/ovr-faq-eng-v20220801-final.pdf
- Vote-by-mail ballots start being sentSeptember 24, 2026 through October 1, 2026 is the window in which county Supervisors of Elections send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters whose requests are already on file. Ballots for military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters must be sent by September 19, 2026. For a later request, the Supervisor must mail the ballot within 2 business days, and no later than October 24, 2026. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/election-dates
- Early voting beginsOctober 24, 2026 is the first day of the 8-day mandatory early voting period, offered in every county. A county may add optional early voting days from October 19, 2026 through October 23, 2026; contact your county Supervisor of Elections for the days offered where you live. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/711204/2026-calendar-20260713.pdf
- Early voting endsOctober 31, 2026 is the last day of the mandatory early voting period. A county may also offer one more optional day, November 1, 2026; contact your county Supervisor of Elections. Early voting hours must be at least 8 hours and no more than 12 hours a day at each site. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/711204/2026-calendar-20260713.pdf
- Deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be mailedOctober 22, 2026, no later than 5 p.m.: the deadline for your county Supervisor of Elections to receive a request for a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed to you (the 12th day before the election). After that, a ballot can still be picked up in person; from the start of mandatory early voting on October 24, 2026 through Election Day, pickup also requires an affidavit affirming that an emergency keeps the voter from voting at an early voting site or at the assigned polling place. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/711204/2026-calendar-20260713.pdf
Rules to know
- What to bringWhether you vote during early voting or on Election Day, you must bring a current and valid photo ID with signature. The Division of Elections lists these acceptable photo IDs: Florida driver license; Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport; debit or credit card; military identification; student identification; retirement center identification; neighborhood association identification; public assistance identification; veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06, Florida Statutes; and employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality. If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature. If you do not bring proper ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot; it counts if you are eligible, voted in the proper precinct, and the signature on the provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record. A voter who votes a provisional ballot may present further evidence of eligibility to the Supervisor of Elections until 5 p.m. (local time) on November 5, 2026, the second day after the election. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/election-day-voting
- Voting by mailIn Florida a voter has the option to vote by mail, at an early voting site, or at the assigned polling location on Election Day. Request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Supervisor of Elections in the county where you are registered: by signed writing on Form DS-DE 160, the Statewide Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Form (by mail, online, fax or as a scanned attachment to an email), in person, or by phone. Give your name, date of birth, address, and your Florida driver license number, Florida identification card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, whichever the Supervisor can verify, plus your signature if the request is written; a signed written request is required if the ballot is to go to an address other than the one on file. A request to have the ballot mailed must reach the Supervisor no later than 5 p.m. on October 22, 2026. A request covers all elections through the end of the calendar year of the next regularly scheduled general election; after that it must be renewed. Return the voted ballot by mail or in person, or deposit it in a secure drop box (secure ballot intake station) at a Supervisor's main or branch office or at a designated early voting site. It must be received, regardless of postmark, by the Supervisor of Elections' office no later than 7:00 p.m. (local time) on November 3, 2026; the Division passes along the U.S. Postal Service's recommendation to mail it at least one week before that deadline. A voted vote-by-mail ballot cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day. To vote in person instead, bring the ballot (marked or unmarked) to the polls, turn it in and vote a regular ballot. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/vote-by-mail
- Early voting in personEligible and registered voters can vote before Election Day at any designated early voting site within their county of registration during early voting days and hours. For the November 3, 2026 general election, every county must offer early voting from October 24, 2026 through October 31, 2026; a Supervisor of Elections may add days as early as October 19, 2026 and as late as November 1, 2026. Each site must be open at least 8 hours and no more than 12 hours a day. The Division of Elections says its statewide list of early voting sites and secure ballot intake stations for the general election will be available after October 4, 2026; your county Supervisor of Elections' website has the specific dates, times and locations. Bring a current and valid photo ID with signature (see What to bring). Secure ballot intake stations for returning vote-by-mail ballots are placed at early voting sites and other authorized areas, are available only at the hours specified by law, and are continuously monitored by an employee of the Supervisor's office. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/early-voting-and-secure-ballot-intake-stations
- Track your vote-by-mail ballotBallot tracking in Florida runs through the county Supervisors of Elections. The Division of Elections' Vote-by-Mail Ballot Information and Status Lookup page links to each county's site, where you can request a vote-by-mail ballot and track the status of your request and your ballot. The statewide Voter Information Lookup is for checking your voter registration and party status: enter your first name, last name and birth date as they appear in your registration record. For your polling place, sample ballot and vote-by-mail ballot status, that tool directs you to your Supervisor of Elections' website. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/check-your-voter-status-and-polling-place/vote-by-mail-ballot-information-and-status-lookup
- Fixing a missing or mismatched signatureThe Supervisor of Elections must notify you if your signature is missing from the vote-by-mail ballot certificate or does not match the one on record. To correct it, complete the Vote-by-Mail Ballot Cure Affidavit (Form DS-DE 139) and include a copy of identification; the form and the copy of the ID can be returned by mail, email, fax, or in person. For the November 3, 2026 general election the deadline is 5 p.m. (local time) on November 5, 2026, the 2nd day after the election. The same deadline applies to an affidavit curing a missing or mismatched signature on a provisional ballot. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/vote-by-mail
Read from: Division of Elections - Florida Department of State · Election Dates - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State · Election Dates and Activities Calendar – 2026 Election Cycle · Florida Voter Registration and Voting Guide (2026 election cycle, updated 07/20/2026) · Guía sobre el registro de votantes y la votación — Ciclo electoral 2026 (actualizado el 20/7/2026) · Register to Vote or Update your Information - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State — Rules and dates as of Sep 17, 2026
Ideas, questions, corrections
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