NAPLES, Fla. – Catalina Lauf, a former Trump administration official and conservative commentator, officially announced Wednesday that she is running for Florida’s 19th Congressional District, seeking to succeed outgoing Rep. Byron Donalds in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Republican primaries in the state. Read More
Lauf, who previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Illinois in 2022, moved to Southwest Florida and has now launched her campaign with a promise to carry forward Donalds’ brand of “America First” leadership. Her campaign message centers on protecting conservative values, defending freedom, and offering voters a fresh alternative to establishment politics.
“In every race voters have a choice: more of the same, or something new,” Lauf said in her announcement. “The people of FL-19 deserve someone who shows up every day ready to serve them—not themselves. Too often, we’ve been left with candidates and politicians who are more focused on personal gain, self-promotion, or clinging to power. That ends now. It’s time for new leaders who put the people first.”
Lauf emphasized her roots as the daughter of a legal immigrant, her background as an entrepreneur and author, and her experience serving as an adviser in the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Trump administration. She has also secured early backing from Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a fellow Republican aligned with Trump.
Her campaign has highlighted her personal life as well, noting that she lives in Bonita Springs with her husband, a former UK Special Forces combat veteran who served alongside U.S. forces during the Global War on Terror. Lauf has framed both her and her husband’s experiences as examples of service and sacrifice for community and country.
The race is quickly shaping up to be one of the more crowded and high-profile Republican primaries of 2026. Lauf will face a field that includes former North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn, who announced his own campaign on the same day, as well as Jim Schwartzel, Chris Collins, James Oberweis, and Mike Pederson.
The Republican primary is scheduled for August 18, 2026, and the winner will likely go on to face Democrat Howard Sapp in the general election. The seat is being vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds, who announced he is running for Florida governor.
With Donalds’ departure and multiple prominent Republicans entering the race, Florida’s 19th District is poised to become a national spotlight contest as the GOP decides who will carry the “America First” banner in one of the party’s safest strongholds.
