Florida 19th District race 2026: Schwartzel vs. Arias

RThe Ledger's profile

Jim Schwartzel

Fort Myers broadcaster Jim Schwartzel, president of Sun Broadcasting, is the 2026 Republican nominee in Florida’s 19th District: business, money, primary.

Read the documented profile of Jim Schwartzel

Also on the ballot

Victor Arias

2026 Democratic nominee for the U.S. House from Florida’s 19th congressional district

The general-election field as the board records it: Jim Schwartzel (R) vs. Victor Arias (D)

The race at a glance

Board data as of Sep 15, 2026. Ratings are the raters' own current calls; polls are the newest public ones with their field dates; money is what the committees reported. Nothing here is a forecast.

Seat

Open — Donalds running for governor (Trump +30)

Primary

Aug 18 (official): Schwartzel 26,153 (29.1%), Lauf 19,722 (22.0%), Oberweis 14,110, Cawthorn 7,596, Collins 6,617 (7.4%)

Ratings

Cook Solid R; Sabato Safe R; IE Solid R

Newest public polling

NOT FOUND

Reported money

Collins self-funded $2.61M of $3.41M; Schwartzel $1.0M of $2.07M

Notable

Trump endorsed Lauf Aug 13 and she lost; Collins (2019 insider-trading resignation, pardoned 2020) was 'Anybody but Chris' target.

Key dates in Florida

Read from the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections. The full guide, with the official tools, is on the Florida page.

• 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. dos.fl.gov
• 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. files.floridados.gov
• 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. files.floridados.gov
• 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. files.floridados.gov
• Deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot (received, not postmarked)November 3, 2026 (Election Day), 7 p.m. (local time): the Supervisor of Elections' office must receive your voted ballot by then, regardless of postmark. Secure drop boxes at Supervisors' main and branch offices accept ballots until 7:00 p.m. (local time) on Election Day. Exception for overseas voters: a mailed ballot postmarked or signed and dated no later than Election Day counts if it is received by November 13, 2026. files.floridados.gov
• Election DayNovember 3, 2026 (Tuesday). dos.fl.gov
• Poll hoursPolls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. (local time) on Election Day, November 3, 2026. Any voters waiting in line at 7:00 p.m. will have the opportunity to vote. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct's polling location. dos.fl.gov

Voting in Florida: dates, rules and official tools

Questions and answers