Gruters and Kirschner to Face Off for Florida’s 16th Congressional District Seat
Republican Gruters and Democrat Kirschner have won their respective primaries for Florida's 16th Congressional District. This sets up a November election for the seat vacated by Congressman Vern Buchanan. The newly drawn district spans six counties in Southwest Florida, including…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, August 19, 2026 —
The race for Florida’s 16th Congressional District seat has been narrowed down to two candidates: Republican Gruters and Democrat Kirschner. Both secured victories in their respective primary elections, setting the stage for a general election contest in November.
The outcome of the primaries means that the seat, previously held by Congressman Vern Buchanan, will see a new representative following the upcoming election. The 16th Congressional District is a newly drawn area that encompasses six counties across Southwest Florida. This region includes a mix of both urban centers and rural communities.
Further details regarding the primary election results, including specific vote counts or the margin of victory for Gruters and Kirschner, were not provided in the available information.
Story summarized from the original created by Chad Mills on www.tampabay28.com, see more information here.
