Who is running for U.S. House, Florida District 16 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for U.S. House, Florida District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in U.S. House District 16 in Florida.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Sydney GrutersRepublican | Kelly KirschnerDemocrat | Mark DavisIndependent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income taxes | No public position | Raise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Social Security | No single answer fits; see evidence | Raise the payroll tax cap so high earners pay more; no benefit cutsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Safety net programs | No public position | Keep them about as they areSaid · medium | No public position |
| Business regulation | No public position | Stronger rules on big corporations, banks and tech companiesSaid · medium | No public position |
| Healthcare | No public position | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenSaid · medium | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · medium |
| Abortion | No public position | No public position | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low |
| Immigration | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | Much more open immigration with less enforcementSaid · low |
| Energy and climate | No public position | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesSaid · medium | No public position |
| Politicians trading stocks | No, ban it for members and their spousesSaid · medium | No public position | No public position |
Sydney Gruters
RepublicanFormer 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
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.
Kelly Kirschner
DemocratFormer Mayor of Sarasota (higher education administrator)
Kelly Kirschner is a third-generation Floridian, former Peace Corps volunteer, and former Sarasota city commissioner and mayor who says he founded a nonprofit helping first-generation students attend top universities; he holds a graduate degree from Georgetown University (1998)2. He won the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary for the open District 16 seat12.
Where they stand 8 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site pledges to tear up the tax breaks that let billionaires pay less than working families and to close loopholes that let some corporations pay zero federal tax. (2026) source
HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site pledges to protect people with pre-existing conditions, restore cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and create an insurance backstop to lower insurance costs. (2026) source
Safety net programsKeep them about as they aremedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site pledges to restore every recent cut to Medicaid and Medicare and to keep Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as earned promises. (2026) source
Business regulationStronger rules on big corporations, banks and tech companiesmedium
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site supports prohibiting offshore drilling and investing in affordable, reliable alternative energy that lowers utility bills. (2026) source
Social SecurityRaise the payroll tax cap so high earners pay more; no benefit cutsmedium
Said · medium confidence- At a League of Women Voters of Manatee County virtual forum he said Congress needs to scrap the cap on income subject to the Social Security payroll tax. (2026-09) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- At a League of Women Voters of Manatee County virtual forum he called ICE raids around the country political theater and called for bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. (2026-09) source
Drug pricesNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says he would allow the government to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. (2026) source
No public position found on: National debt, Minimum wage, Abortion, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, 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.
Mark Davis
IndependentPrivate citizen (small business owner)
Mark Davis is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from 2005 to 2013, a small business owner and a father who says he has worked in health care2. He is running with no party affiliation and says his campaign is funded by everyday people rather than PACs12.
Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
ImmigrationMuch more open immigration with less enforcementlow
Said · low confidence- The Tampa Bay Times reported that at a League of Women Voters of Manatee County virtual forum he called for abolishing ICE. (2026-09) source
No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.