--- title: "Grage vs. Rutherford: 2026 Florida’s 5th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-05" updated: "2026-08-19" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Florida’s 5th District race: Rachel Grage (D) vs. John Rutherford (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 19, 2026 In Florida's 5th Congressional District, four-term Republican incumbent John Rutherford faces Democratic challenger Rachel Grage in the November 2026 general election. Rutherford advanced from the Republican primary with 67.7% of the vote, while Grage won the Democratic primary with 65.1%. The matchup contrasts Rutherford's conservative record on government regulation, law enforcement, and key votes with Grage's platform focused on cost-of-living relief, healthcare access, public education funding, and insurance reform. ## Candidates - **Rachel Grage** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://rachelgrage.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Grage) - **John Rutherford** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://johnrutherfordforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rutherford_%28Florida%29) ## Issues ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Grage focuses on government interventions and worker support to lower household costs, whereas Rutherford advocates for free-market deregulation and tax limitations. **Rachel Grage:** Focuses on family affordability and worker relief Grage emphasizes easing financial pressures on working families by tackling rising living expenses, healthcare premiums, and housing costs. She advocates for workforce development, apprenticeships, and job training in high-demand industries alongside fair wages and workplace protections. - Proposes policy measures to reduce healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses. - Supports workforce development, apprenticeships, and job training programs. - Advocates for fair wages, benefits, and workplace protections. - Supports economic development incentives like Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions. > “I am running to address the rising costs that make everyday life harder for working families.” > — Rachel Grage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Grage) **John Rutherford:** Supports free-market policies and tax cuts Rutherford advocates for free-market principles, deregulation, and tax cuts to stimulate job growth and private sector investment. In Congress, he signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and voted for major fiscal legislation including the Limit, Save, Grow Act and the 2025 budget reconciliation bill. - Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge with Americans for Tax Reform. - Voted for the 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023. - Voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. - Supports cutting federal regulations and rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity. > “Businesses and entrepreneurs create jobs – not the government.” > — John Rutherford, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rutherford_%28Florida%29) ### Healthcare and Senior Programs Salience: high Grage seeks to strengthen Medicare and reduce out-of-pocket care costs, while Rutherford advocates repealing Obamacare in favor of market-based options. **Rachel Grage:** Supports protecting Medicare and lowering healthcare costs Grage identifies healthcare affordability as a central campaign priority, advocating to lower premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs. She strongly supports defending Medicare and Social Security from cuts to ensure financial stability for seniors. - Prioritizes lowering healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs. - Pledges to defend Medicare and Social Security from benefit reductions. - Draws on her background as a biomedical engineer to address healthcare access. > “I am especially passionate about health care affordability, including protecting Medicare and Social Security and reducing insurance costs.” > — Rachel Grage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Grage) **John Rutherford:** Opposes Obamacare and favors market-based healthcare Rutherford opposes federal health mandates, advocating for the repeal of Obamacare in favor of market-based alternatives. He voted for the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 and voted to end COVID-19 travel vaccination requirements and the national emergency state. - Supports repealing Obamacare and replacing it with a market-based alternative. - Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82). - Voted to end the national COVID-19 state of emergency and terminate vaccine requirements for foreign travelers. - Voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices. > “John is staunchly against the federal government’s overreach in our health sector and will vote to repeal Obamacare.” > — John Rutherford, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rutherford_%28Florida%29) ### Housing and Property Insurance Salience: medium Grage proposes active regulatory and reinsurance reforms for Florida's housing and insurance crisis, while Rutherford's documented record relies on his Appropriations housing subcommittee service. **Rachel Grage:** Advocates for insurance reform and disaster resilience Grage highlights Florida's property insurance and housing affordability crisis as key challenges facing local households. She advocates for stricter insurance oversight, state reinsurance strengthening, fraud prevention, and federal disaster resilience partnerships. - Calls for legislation ensuring fair insurance practices and increased market competition. - Supports strengthening state reinsurance and fraud prevention to lower premiums. - Advocates for disaster resilience investments and partnerships with FEMA. > “Skyrocketing insurance premium and housing costs are a key problem for my district.” > — Rachel Grage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Grage) **John Rutherford:** Assigned to congressional housing subcommittees Rutherford has served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development during multiple congresses, though his campaign themes do not detail specific property insurance proposals. - Assigned to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development in the 117th and 118th Congresses. ### Government Accountability, Elections, and Democracy Salience: medium Grage stresses constitutional checks and institutional accountability, while Rutherford's record includes voting against the 2020 election certification and voting for the SAVE Act. **Rachel Grage:** Advocates for transparency and constitutional oversight Grage emphasizes public accessibility, constitutional checks and balances, and safeguarding democratic processes. She argues elected officials must remain accountable to constituents and operate within clear constitutional boundaries. - Emphasizes regular engagement, transparent decision-making, and constitutional oversight. - Supports protecting civil liberties, due process, and the separation of powers. > “Accountability in government I believe elected officials must be transparent, accessible, and answerable to the people they represent.” > — Rachel Grage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Grage) **John Rutherford:** Voted against 2020 certification and for voter ID laws Rutherford voted against certifying the 2020 electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania. In the 119th Congress, he voted for the SAVE Act to mandate proof of citizenship for federal voting and voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. - Voted against certifying the 2020 electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania on January 6-7, 2021. - Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal election registration. - Voted to authorize the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden (H.Res. 918). - Voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) and voted against the For the People Act (H.R. 1). ### Public Education Salience: medium Grage focuses on increasing public school funding and teacher salaries, while Rutherford's documented educational record centers on restricting athletic participation based on biological sex. **Rachel Grage:** Supports increased public school funding and teacher pay Grage advocates for expanding public education funding to prevent local school closures and improve teacher compensation. She proposes reallocating state revenues, pursuing federal grants, and leveraging public-private partnerships. - Calls for higher state budget allocations and federal grant pursuits for public schools. - Supports raising teacher pay and preventing local school closures. - Endorsed by the Florida Education Association. > “Provide more funding for education. Inadequate funding is leading to the closing of some of our beloved local public schools.” > — Rachel Grage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Grage) **John Rutherford:** Supports restrictions on biological males in female sports Rutherford voted in 2025 for federal legislation restricting participation in school athletic programs based on biological sex. - Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28). ### Public Safety and Law Enforcement Salience: medium Rutherford highlights his career as a county sheriff to back law enforcement funding, whereas Grage frames public safety around civil liberties and community trust. **Rachel Grage:** Supports public safety grounded in accountability and civil liberties Grage stresses that public safety depends on responsible government power, fairness, and upholding civil liberties while addressing community needs. - Connects public safety to fairness, human life, and constitutional rights. - Prioritizes civil liberties and community responsiveness. > “Public trust depends on leaders who take constitutional responsibilities seriously and prioritize human life, fairness, and public safety.” > — Rachel Grage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Grage) **John Rutherford:** Supports strong funding and resources for law enforcement A former three-term Sheriff of Duval County, Rutherford emphasizes providing law enforcement officers with necessary tools and resources to combat crime and terrorism while strengthening community ties. - Served three terms as Sheriff of Duval County, Florida. - Advocates for equipping law enforcement with resources to prevent crime and counter terrorism. - Assigned to the House Committee on Homeland Security. > “As a former Sheriff, John is uniquely qualified to address our crime problems and work to address the threat of terrorism.” > — John Rutherford, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rutherford_%28Florida%29) ### Second Amendment and Gun Policy Salience: low Rutherford staunchly opposes firearm restrictions, while Grage aligns with gun safety advocacy groups. **Rachel Grage:** Supports gun safety legislation Grage supports gun safety measures and has earned the endorsement of Everytown for Gun Safety in her campaigns. - Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety. **John Rutherford:** Staunchly defends Second Amendment rights Rutherford positions himself as a constitutional conservative committed to protecting firearm ownership rights for self-defense, hunting, and recreation. - Opposes federal firearm restrictions and executive gun control actions. - Supports gun ownership for self-defense, hunting, and recreational shooting. > “John is a Constitutional Conservative and staunch defender of our Constitutional Liberties, especially our Second Amendment Rights.” > — John Rutherford, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rutherford_%28Florida%29) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: medium Rutherford maintains a documented record of supporting strict border enforcement and deportation bills, whereas Grage has no documented detailed position in the sources. **Rachel Grage:** No documented position in our sources **John Rutherford:** Supports strict border enforcement and deportations Rutherford consistently supports restrictive border security laws and enhanced law enforcement measures against unauthorized immigrants. He voted for the Laken Riley Act, the Secure the Border Act, and measures making DUIs grounds for deportation. - Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) to limit asylum and mandate E-Verify. - Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for theft. - Voted for H.R. 875 making DUI offenses grounds for deportation. - Voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. ### Veterans and National Defense Salience: low Rutherford actively promotes military spending and VA overhaul based on his committee work, whereas Grage has no documented positions on defense or veterans affairs in the sources. **Rachel Grage:** No documented position in our sources **John Rutherford:** Supports military spending and VA reform Rutherford advocates rebuilding the U.S. military under a 'peace through strength' doctrine and reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs. He serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. - Serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. - Voted for the National Defense Authorization Acts for FY2024 (H.R. 2670) and FY2025 (H.R. 8070). - Advocates for VA administrative reform and increased defense readiness. > “Our military is at its smallest level since World War II and we must return to a peace through strength military.” > — John Rutherford, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rutherford_%28Florida%29) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/fl-05-house-election-winner) — FL-05 House Election Winner: Republicans 94.5%, Democrats 5.5% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-FL05-26) — FL-05 House winner?: John Rutherford 93.5%, Rachel Grage 6.5% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXFLPRIMARY-05R26) — FL-05 Republican nominee?: John Rutherford 99.0%, Mark Kaye 1.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXFLPRIMARY-05D26) — FL-05 Democratic nominee?: Rachel Grage 99.0%, Eli Johnson 1.0%, Mark Heggestad 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-05)