Mario Diaz-Balart, Rich Evans, and Johnny Fratto will compete to be the Republican nominee for the Congressional District 26 seat held by Diaz-Balart in a closed primary election on August 20. The winner will face Democrat Joey Atkins in the general election in November.
In This Post
Below, you will find the following information to help you learn more about the candidates:
- Bios and key issues
- Websites and social media
- Endorsements
- In the news
- Campaign finances
Mario Diaz-Balart
Mario Diaz-Balart, 62, was born in 1961 in Fort Lauderdale to Cuban parents. He studied political science at the University of South Florida before beginning his public service career as an aide to then-Miami Mayor Xavier Suárez in 1985.
Díaz-Balart was elected to the Florida House in 1988 and the Florida Senate in 1992. He returned to the Florida House in 2000.
In 2002, Díaz-Balart gave up his seat in the state house to run in the newly created 25th District, which included most of western Miami-Dade County, part of Collier County, and the mainland portion of Monroe County. He won with 64% of the vote, and was reelected since. He is currently fulfilling his 11th term in the House, representing Florida’s 26th congressional district.
He currently serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and three of its subcommittees. He was also a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference and is a member of several Congressional caucuses and groups.
He and his wife Tia have one son.
Key Issues
Throughout his tenure in Congress, Diaz-Balart has focused on improving the local infrastructure so that the 26th District can compete in the national and international marketplace for good-paying jobs, according to his campaign website.
Recently, he helped secure $20 million in federal funds for Miami-Dade County resiliency efforts and $18 million to update a building for veterans’ services, to build a community center in Everglades City, and to study the feasibility of opening the existing interchange at I-75 and Everglades Boulevard. He has consistently helped secure funding for disaster relief, Everglades preservation and restoration, and other programs of vital importance to the community.
Diaz-Balart’s votes and positions on key issues, including abortion, spending and taxes, civil liberties and civil rights, criminal justice, and more, are on Vote Smart and Wikipedia.
In the News
- Florida is a law and order state: Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Mornings with Maria on FOX Business, 6/24/24
- Diaz-Balart: ‘Americans deserve better than a weak and confused foreign policy’ | Opinion, Miami Herald, 4/9/24
- Diaz-Balart remarks during floor consideration of H.R. 7217, The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, U.S. House Statement, 2/6/24
- Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart discusses conflict in Israel, YouTube, WPLG Local 10, 10/22/23
- Most South Florida members of Congress vote against Jim Jordan for House speaker, NBC6 Miami, 10/18/23
Endorsements
Mario Diaz-Balart is endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump, the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, AIPAC PAC and Pro-Israel America.
Websites and Social Media
Other Resources
- Ballotpedia
- Wikipedia
- VoteSmart – Diaz-Balart’s’ bio, votes, positions, ratings, speeches, and funding
- Heritage Action Scorecard – How Diaz-Balart is rated on “the leading conservative scorecard” by an arm of the Heritage Foundation
Richard Evans
There is very little information available about Rich Evans online. According to his Facebook page, he has 25+ years of experience as a CPA and risk manager and studied at the University of Notre Dame. “While Evans shows as having qualified, there are no federal financial documents showing for him on the Federal Election Commission website,” according to a Naples Daily News article on July 8.
Key Issues
On his website, Evans shares his thoughts about water, energy, transport, and more.
In the News
A Google search turned up no news to report.
Endorsements
A Google search turned up no endorsements.
Websites and Social Media
Johnny Fratto
Fratto is “a man of the people and a true guardian of American values. An America First warrior ready to take a stand against establishment RINO’s (Republican’s in name only), [sic] and Uni-party politics,” according to his campaign website.
Neither the website nor a Google search found any biographical information about him.
Key Issues
Fratto’s campaign focuses on putting America first, citing initiatives in government transparency, strengthening the core values of American families, achieving energy independence, revamping the financial system, reforming immigration policies, and safeguarding the rights of every American citizen.
On his website, Fratto shares his thoughts on healthcare innovation, border security, energy independence, ending the Fed, limited government, and individual liberty.
In the News
A Google search turned up no news to report.
Endorsements
Fratto is endorsed by Roger Stone, George Papadopoulos, and Alfie Oakes.
Websites and Social Media
Campaign Finance
Here is a summary of the candidates’ filings to date:
Next Steps
If you are a registered Republican in Congressional District 26, it’s time to decide which of the four candidates to vote for.
If you missed it, please read my post, Planning Ahead, to learn which additional ballot questions I will research in the coming weeks.