I will win this seat this time.
In the recurring rhythm of American political life, near-defeat often becomes the seed of renewed ambition. Joe Kaufman, a Republican national security advocate who came within two percentage points of unseating a Democratic incumbent in Florida's 2024 congressional race, has announced his candidacy for the newly redrawn 25th district in 2026, believing that redistricting, stronger organization, and a sharpened message have transformed a narrow loss into a viable path forward. His campaign weaves together counter-terrorism credentials, economic populism, and healthcare reform into a broader argument that the Democratic Party has lost its way — a case he intends to make in one of Florida's most contested emerging battlegrounds.
- Kaufman's 48% showing in 2024 was the closest congressional race in Florida that cycle, leaving him with the rare political currency of a near-miss rather than a defeat.
- Redistricting has reshuffled the board entirely, and the new 25th district represents both an opportunity and an unknown — the old map's lessons may not fully translate.
- The Democratic field is formidable and crowded, with both Jared Moskowitz and twelve-term veteran Debbie Wasserman Schultz potentially competing for the same seat Kaufman is targeting.
- Kaufman is racing to build the organizational infrastructure he lacked in 2024, betting that earlier entry and a broader coalition will close the gap his first run could not.
- Historical midterm headwinds for the party holding the presidency loom over the entire race, making Republican messaging on border security, inflation, and healthcare the central test of the cycle.
Joe Kaufman is running again, and this time he believes the ground has shifted beneath him.
In 2024, Kaufman came closer to winning a Florida congressional seat than any Republican had in that district in years, pulling 48 percent against two-term Democratic incumbent Jared Moskowitz in the state's tightest congressional race. He lost — but narrowly enough that the defeat felt less like a verdict and more like unfinished business. Now, with Florida's redistricting complete, he has announced his candidacy for the newly drawn 25th district in 2026, arguing that a late start and thin organization cost him last time, and that neither problem remains.
Kaufman's political identity is built around national security. He describes himself as a "terrorist hunter," pointing to years of research, writing, and direct action — including efforts to shut down terrorist-linked charities and, more recently, a successful legal battle to block a pro-Hamas conference in Coral Springs. He won that federal case twice. These credentials anchor his campaign pitch and inform his foreign policy hawkishness, though he draws a firm line at deploying American troops abroad, citing the human cost of past wars.
Domestically, Kaufman advocates for vocational training in high schools as a route to economic independence, and he is a sharp critic of the Affordable Care Act, which he argues has consumed hundreds of billions in subsidies while failing to deliver affordable care. He wants it replaced with something leaner and more effective.
He acknowledges the structural challenge ahead — the party holding the presidency historically loses seats in midterms — but frames it as manageable, crediting Trump with taming inflation and expressing confidence that ongoing international conflicts will resolve. His closing argument is that Democrats have failed on borders, healthcare, and American values, and that Republicans can win by saying so plainly.
The race is far from settled. Former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer is also seeking the Republican nomination, while Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz — who would be running for her 12th term — are both weighing Democratic bids in the same district. The field is crowded, the stakes are real, and Kaufman is wagering that 2024 was a rehearsal.
Joe Kaufman is running again. This time, he's betting that redistricting has redrawn the map in his favor.
Two years ago, Kaufman came closer to winning a congressional seat in Florida than any Republican had in that district in years. He pulled 48 percent of the vote in the 23rd district race against Democrat Jared Moskowitz, a two-term incumbent who has cultivated a moderate image. It was the tightest congressional race in the state that cycle. He lost, but narrowly enough that the loss felt like unfinished business.
Now, with Florida's redistricting complete, Kaufman has announced he will run in the newly drawn 25th district in 2026. He says the conditions are different this time. He entered that 2024 race late, he explains, and without the organizational infrastructure he has built since. His coalition is stronger now. His message is sharper. "We've done that now, and I will win this seat this time," he told Fox News Digital.
Kaufman's political identity centers on national security and counter-terrorism work. He describes himself as a "terrorist hunter" and has spent years doing research, writing, and lecturing on terrorism-related issues. He has worked on shutting down terrorist charities and securing the imprisonment of individuals connected to terror organizations. More recently, he led efforts to block a pro-Hamas conference scheduled for Coral Springs. When the organizers—including CAIR and the South Florida Muslim Federation—sued him and the Marriott Corporation in federal court, twice, he won both times. These credentials form the backbone of his campaign pitch.
On foreign policy more broadly, Kaufman positions himself as a hawk, though with specific limits. Seventeen years ago, he co-founded Cyrus Force alongside Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whom he believes will become Iran's future leader. But when asked about deploying American troops to Iran, Kaufman draws a line. He opposes putting U.S. soldiers on the ground, citing the human cost of past wars. He extends the same principle to Israel. If military intervention happens, he argues, it should involve third parties willing to engage—not American or Israeli forces. "I don't want to see what took place in wars past happen here with seeing Americans come back in body bags," he said.
Beyond foreign policy, Kaufman advocates for vocational training in American high schools, framing it as a pathway to economic independence. Too many young people remain dependent on their parents after graduation, he argues, lacking the job skills to support themselves. Vocational programs, he believes, would change that trajectory. He is also a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act, calling it fundamentally unaffordable despite its name. He argues it has consumed hundreds of billions in subsidies and that Republicans should replace it with a system that costs less and delivers better care.
Kaufman acknowledges the political headwinds ahead. The party holding the presidency typically loses seats in midterm elections. He points to ongoing international conflict and the lingering effects of inflation from the Biden administration as challenges. But he frames these as temporary obstacles. He credits President Trump with bringing inflation down and expresses confidence that the overseas conflict will end soon. His closing argument is that the Democratic Party has fundamentally failed—opening borders to people including terrorists, destroying healthcare, and undermining American values. Republicans, he believes, can win on that message in 2026.
The race itself remains unsettled. Former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer is also running in the Republican primary for the 25th district. On the Democratic side, both Moskowitz and incumbent Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz—who would be seeking her 12th term—are weighing runs in the same district. The field is crowded, the stakes are high, and Kaufman is betting that his near-miss two years ago was a preview of what comes next.
Notable Quotes
It was the closest race in all of Florida and the highest percentage of any Republican to ever run for that seat. But back then, I got in very late in the game and this time around our numbers are much better.— Joe Kaufman
I don't want to see what took place in wars past happen here with seeing Americans come back in body bags.— Joe Kaufman, on opposing ground troops in Iran
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
You lost by a narrow margin in 2024. What's different now that makes you confident you'll win?
The redistricting changed the district entirely. But more than that, I came in late last time. I didn't have the infrastructure, the coalitions, the ground game. I've spent the last two years building all of that. The fundamentals are stronger.
You call yourself a "terrorist hunter." That's a specific brand. Why lead with that?
Because it's what I've actually done. I've shut down terrorist charities. I've worked to imprison terror-related individuals. I stopped a pro-Hamas conference from happening in my community. These aren't talking points—they're my record.
You say you won't put American troops on the ground in Iran, but you co-founded a group with the Crown Prince. How do you square that circle?
I believe in supporting change in Iran, but not with American blood. If other parties want to get involved militarily, I say let them. We've seen what happens when we put our soldiers in harm's way. I won't do that.
Vocational training in high schools—that's an unusual centerpiece for a campaign. Why does that matter to you?
Too many kids graduate and move back in with their parents because they have no marketable skills. Vocational training gives them a real path to independence, to earning money, to building a life. It's practical and it works.
The Affordable Care Act has been law for over a decade. What's your actual alternative?
A system that costs the government less and costs taxpayers less while delivering better quality care. The ACA was never affordable—it's been propped up by hundreds of billions in subsidies. We can do better.
You're running in a midterm year when the party in power typically loses seats. How do you overcome that?
The inflation and the war overseas are real challenges, but I think both are temporary. President Trump is bringing inflation down. The conflict will end. When it does, the message becomes clear: Democrats broke things, Republicans are fixing them.