Maddie Herron
•8/12/2026
IMMOKALEE, Fla. (WINK)—Thousands of Southwest Florida voters will choose their primary pick for Congress in a new district after statewide congressional redistricting in May.
Florida's Congressional District 22 now stretches across four South Florida counties. Political experts say the district's geographical size includes many different priorities that could impact the polls.
WINK News reporter Maddie Herron has been traveling to different communities in the district to find out what is important to voters and their neighbors. She's been to Hendry County, East Naples, Marco Island and Immokalee.
Voters in Immokalee and Ave Maria say their biggest priorities have to do with infrastructure, overdevelopment and affordability. Herron met early voters in Congressional District 22 at the Immokalee Library from Collier County's inland communities.
Carlos Cano dropped off his ballot from Ave Maria. "We love it there. It's very, very safe, very friendly," Cano said.
Cano says Ave Maria is growing and one priority he brings to the polls is infrastructure that can keep up with new neighbors.
"It is growing further than we thought it was going to grow, and so we're just want to make sure that the planning is there to accommodate all that influx of people coming in," Cano said.
Another eastern Collier County talker is taxes. Debbie Fornwall, an early voter from Ave Maria, says keeping taxes affordable is important.
"I think a lot of it is the taxes, and you know, trying to keep the taxes to a minimum," Fornwall said. "Just making sure that the infrastructure in our surrounding areas stay healthy and our taxes stay affordable."
No matter who wins District 22, Cano hopes they'll keep his inland community a priority. "Collier County is a great county, and so I'm just hoping that you know the powers that be are taking the right steps to make sure that it keeps that way," Cano said.
"Make sure that your votes are casted," Fornwall said. "Everybody's got an opinion, and your vote matters."
In Collier County, early voting lasts until Saturday. The primary election will take place next Tuesday.
