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Florida Republican Joe Kaufman Sets Sights on New Congressional District for 2026
Joe Kaufman, a Republican congressional candidate who narrowly lost one of Florida’s closest races in 2024, has announced his intention to run in the newly formed 25th District in 2026.
Kaufman told Fox News Digital he’s confident about his prospects following his strong showing against incumbent Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz in the 23rd District last cycle, where he secured 48% of the vote—the highest percentage ever achieved by a Republican in that traditionally Democratic-leaning seat.
“It was the closest race in all of Florida,” Kaufman said. “This time around our numbers are much better, and we’ve been able to form those coalitions that we needed last time. We’ve done that now, and I will win this seat this time.”
The announcement comes as Florida completes its redistricting process, creating uncertainty about who Kaufman might face. Rep. Moskowitz has indicated he would run in the 25th District if he seeks reelection, while longtime Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who would be seeking her 12th term, is reportedly also considering a run in the same district.
Kaufman, who describes himself as a “terrorist hunter,” brings significant foreign policy credentials to his campaign. “I do counter-terrorism research, writing and lectures,” he explained, noting his involvement in “the shutdown of terrorist charities and the imprisonment of terror-related individuals.”
He highlighted a recent achievement in preventing a pro-Hamas conference in Coral Springs, Florida, which resulted in legal action against him by the organizers, including CAIR and the South Florida Muslim Federation. “They sued us not once, but twice and I’m proud to say that we won not once, but twice,” Kaufman stated.
On international affairs, Kaufman mentioned his co-founding of the group Cyrus Force with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whom he believes will eventually become “a future leader of Iran.” While advocating for a strong foreign policy stance, he opposes deploying American ground troops in Iran.
“I don’t want to see what took place in wars past happen here with seeing Americans come back in body bags,” Kaufman said. “I feel the same way about our friends in Israel. But there are third parties that want to get involved, and I say, give them the green light to do so.”
Beyond foreign policy, Kaufman’s platform focuses on domestic issues, particularly education and healthcare. He advocates for expanding vocational training in American high schools, arguing that young people need practical job skills to achieve financial independence.
“Too many kids today are staying home with their parents after they graduate high school,” he said. “They need to have real job skills so they could make money, get out of their parents’ homes, be able to have their own families, and eventually purchase their own house.”
Kaufman is also a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. “It was never affordable. It’s been taking hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies, thanks to the Democrats,” he asserted. “I think we need a new health care system that costs the American government less and costs the American taxpayer less and better quality.”
The 2026 midterm elections could present challenges for Republican candidates nationwide, as the party of the sitting president typically loses congressional seats in midterms. Kaufman acknowledges potential headwinds, citing ongoing international tensions and lingering economic concerns from the Biden administration.
“A lot of it has to do with the war overseas, but I believe that’s going to be short term,” he said. “With regards to inflation, we’re still dealing with the Biden years where Joe Biden initiated very heavy inflation for our country.”
Despite these challenges, Kaufman remains optimistic about Republican messaging for 2026, criticizing Democrats on immigration, healthcare, and national security. “They’ve allowed people, an untold amount of people, to cross our borders, some of which have been terrorists and members of terror cells,” he claimed.
With Florida’s new district lines drawn and campaign preparations underway, Kaufman’s early announcement positions him among the first declared candidates for what could be one of Florida’s most competitive congressional races in 2026.
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10 Comments
Florida’s 25th Congressional District is shaping up to be a battleground. Kaufman’s past performance and confidence in his chances are intriguing, but he’ll face some formidable opponents. I wonder what policy priorities he’ll emphasize in his campaign.
Moskowitz and Wasserman Schultz are seasoned politicians, so Kaufman will need a strong platform and effective outreach to have a shot at winning this seat. The dynamics of the race should make for an interesting campaign season.
The battle for Florida’s 25th is shaping up to be a closely watched race. Kaufman’s past close call suggests he has a solid base of support, but he’ll need to build on that to overcome the name recognition of his potential Democratic opponents.
With the redistricting, it’s hard to predict how the dynamics will play out. Kaufman will have to run a savvy campaign to capitalize on his previous performance and win over new constituents in the redrawn district.
Interesting to see Kaufman running again for this newly formed district. It’ll be a competitive race given the high-profile candidates potentially vying for the seat. I’m curious to see how his campaigning and coalitions evolve from the previous close contest.
The redistricting process certainly adds an element of uncertainty. It will be worth watching how the candidates position themselves and appeal to voters in this newly drawn district.
Kaufman’s decision to run again in the 25th district is a bold move. His background in mining and energy could give him an edge with voters concerned about those industries, but he’ll face stiff competition from seasoned politicians. It will be an interesting race to follow.
Absolutely. The 25th district race is shaping up to be a high-stakes political battle. I’m curious to see how Kaufman’s campaign strategy evolves and how he positions himself against his Democratic opponents.
Kaufman’s announcement adds another high-profile race to Florida’s political landscape. As an energy and commodities investor, I’ll be curious to see if he addresses those industries and their importance to the district in his campaign.
Mining, metals, and energy are crucial sectors, so I agree it will be worth monitoring how the candidates approach those issues. Voters in the 25th district will likely want to understand the candidates’ stances on these economic drivers.