Florida Republican primary sees wave of out-of-state hopefuls labeled carpetbaggers

In southwest Florida, voters will choose among ten Republicans to fill the seat vacated by Congressman Byron Donalds, who is running for governor. The field includes several recent arrivals who argue they moved for the weather or the district's conservative ethos, but local rivals accuse them of carpetbagging. Candidates like John Strand, Ola Hawatmeh and Linda Sawyer have previously sought congressional office in California, New York and Michigan, and two—Chris Collins and John Strand—were pardoned by Donald Trump for past legal troubles.

Despite the out-of-state backgrounds, many constituents, themselves newcomers, prioritize candidates' social-conservative positions. One contender, Catalina Lauf, a former Trump administration official, received a Trump endorsement just days before early voting began, prompting a scramble to publicize the support. The race underscores how migration patterns and national political ties shape local contests in a reliably Republican district.