Vote the PersonNot the party
Support the siteTake the quiz
Candidate

Sydney Gruters

Republican

Former Executive Director, New College Foundation

Sydney Gruters began working as a congressional staffer in 2004, spent more than a decade in U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's offices, later served as district director for U.S. Rep. Greg Steube and as Florida state director for USDA Rural Development during President Trump's first term, and led the New College Foundation32. She won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary for the open District 16 seat with President Trump's endorsement; she is married to Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters123.

Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • Politicians trading stocksNo, ban it for members and their spousesmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • At a League of Women Voters of Manatee County virtual forum she said she is committed to banning stock trading by members of Congress. (2026-09) source
  • ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her campaign site says she will work with President Trump and ICE to keep families safe from violent criminals entering the country illegally. (2026) source
    • At a League of Women Voters of Manatee County virtual forum she said the process should be made easier for people trying to come legally and that no new laws are needed because the laws are already there. (2026-09) source
  • Social SecurityNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Asked at a League of Women Voters forum how to protect Social Security from insolvency, she said she would never support raising taxes. (2026-09) source
    • Her campaign site pledges to protect Social Security and Medicare. (2026) source

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Record

  • Worked as a congressional staffer for U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Greg Steube, and served as Florida state director for USDA Rural Development from 201723.
  • Won the Republican primary for U.S. House, Florida District 16, on August 18, 202613.

Who funds this campaign

Official reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for January 1, 2025 through July 29, 2026.

$1,087,683raised
$465,301spent
$622,381cash on hand

Where the money came from

  • People who gaveincluding $4,074 in gifts under $200$941,601
  • PACs and other political committees$120,500
  • The candidate's own money and loans$7,000
  • Transfers from joint fundraising and other campaign committees$18,557

Largest contributions from PACs and parties

As named in the filings, net of any refunds. Joint fundraising transfers are counted in the totals above.

  1. VALUE IN ELECTING WOMEN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEPAC$10,000
  2. SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. PACPAC$10,000
  3. HEBREW HAMMER PACPAC$7,000
  4. RAPTOR PACPAC$6,000
  5. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEPAC$5,000
  6. BUCKEYE LIBERTY PACPAC$5,000
  7. AMERICAN REVIVAL PACPAC$5,000
  8. WFW ACTION FUND INCPAC$5,000
  9. VOTE TO ELECT REPUBLICANS NOW PACPAC$5,000
  10. THE EYE OF THE TIGER POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEPAC$5,000

Gifts from individual people are listed by name in the full filings. See every report on FEC.gov. Numbers updated October 5, 2026; we add no labels or judgments to any donor.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (4)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. Candidate Listing, 2026 General ElectionFlorida Division of Elections
  2. Sydney Gruters for CongressSydney Gruters for Congress
  3. Sydney Gruters, Eddie Speir, Ed Pope offer competing visions for post-Buchanan CD 16Florida Politics
  4. 5 takeaways from candidate forum for Tampa Bay congressional seatTampa Bay Times