Carson Zorn
•8/14/2026
President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican candidate Catalina Lauf in the race for Florida's 19th Congressional District, just days before the primary. The endorsement comes in a heated race for the Congressional seat held by Byron Donalds, who is currently running for governor of Florida. Trump announced his endorsement on the social media platform Truth Social, stating Lauf has his "complete and total endorsement" and calling her an "America First patriot." Trump's full Truth Social post reads: "It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Catalina Lauf, who is running to represent the tremendous people of Florida’s 19th Congressional District! As a former Presidential Appointee at the U.S. Department of Commerce in my First Administration, Catalina has proven she has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of her State and Nation — She has truly been with us from the beginning! As your next Congresswoman, Catalina will fight tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Catalina Lauf has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Congresswoman from Florida’s 19th Congressional District — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" Lauf previously served as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Commerce during Trump's first administration. She has also run for Congress in Illinois. Lauf responded to the endorsement in a Facebook post, saying, "To the greatest President, thank you. I am so honored to receive your Complete and Total Endorsement. I will NEVER LET YOU DOWN. And to the people of Southwest Florida: I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY. For our families. For our freedoms. For our country." One of Lauf's opponents, Jim Schwartzel, responded to the endorsement, saying he has received calls from supporters who are angry. Schwartzel issued a statement, saying: "The President endorsed my opponent tonight. You're hearing it from me before you hear it anywhere else. A lot of you are angry. I've gotten the calls. You should know I'm not asking you to be anything other than what you are right now. But let's be precise about where that anger belongs. Not with President Trump — I've supported him from the beginning and I'll support him after Tuesday. It belongs with the operation that worked this for months: the out-of-state super PACs that have poured millions into this district, the Washington consultants who packaged a candidate who ran for Congress twice in Illinois and sold her as Southwest Florida's choice, the people who decided our seat shouldn’t be settled in a room a thousand miles from here. They got a piece of paper. They did not get your vote. That is still yours, and you cast it early or on Tuesday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Chairman Jim Jordan are with me, and they weren't doing me a favor. They run the President's agenda through the House, they looked at this field, and they picked the man who'll actually deliver for this district on day one. And here's what no endorsement touches. I was born here, this isn't a seat I came here to take. Four days. Every door, every call, every hand I can shake until the polls close. I'm going to earn it, and WIN it. See you out there." Other candidates have yet to respond to the endorsement. For a full list of candidates, click here. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV
