Kelly Kirschner
Candidate · U.S. House · Florida
Democrat · Challenger23%
Party to win · Kalshi, Oct 27, 2026
Running for
OfficeU.S. House
SeatFlorida, district 16
AgainstSydney Gruters (R)
ElectionNov 3, 2026 · 7 days
StandingChallenger
BallotDirectory listing
Links
The district
FL-16 · Florida
Roster checked Sep 29, 2026. Listed as: Ex-Sarasota Mayor, Nonprofit Executive & Peace Corps Veteran.
The campaign · in their wordskellykirschner.com · read Oct 19, 2026 ↗
“Courageous Leadership. For Our Families.”
Plank 1 · campaign site
Lower the Cost of Living
“My first priority is, lowering the cost of living for Gulf Coast families - and protecting the healthcare and retirement security you've already earned.”
Plank 2 · campaign site
Protect the Gulf Coast We Call Home
“Protect Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and our coastline by prohibiting offshore drilling, stopping open-water fish farming, and enforcing the Clean Water Act.”
Page titles and first lines from the campaign's own site, unedited. 11 pages read.
Where They Stand
Statement estimateNo votes yet, so this is read from the campaign’s own words, on the same scale as a member’s record.
Overall
from 5 statements
L-lean
Issue · by emphasisLeftCenterRightReadTalks about
The race · Florida House, district 16 · 7 days out
Sydney GrutersRepublican · challenger · Right 33 from statements77%Kelly KirschnerDemocrat · challenger · L-lean 21 from statements23%3321
54 points apart · hollow = estimate, solid = record
Money · FEC through Sep 30, 2026
$752k
Raised
$744k
From individuals
Named donors · gifts over $200
$642k
Itemized · 86% of individual
538
Named donors
88%
Itemized from Florida
By occupation
$331k
$66k
$24k
$12k
$10k
By state
$562k
$17k
$17k
$10k
$8k
The FEC doesn't name donors who give under $200, so their gifts count in Raised but not Itemized.
In their own words
“Invest in affordable energy that lowers your bills.”
“allow government to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices”
“Restore every cut. Protect every patient with a pre-existing condition.”
On the ballot with them · Florida, Nov 3, 2026
FL Senate · special
Ashley Moody (R) · 89%
vs. Angie Nixon (D) · 12%
FL Governor · open seat
Byron Donalds (R) · 79%
vs. David Jolly (D) · 22%
FL-1
Jimmy Patronis (R) · 97%
vs. Gay Valimont (D) · 4%
FL-2 · open seat
Austin Rogers (R) · 90%
vs. Amanda Marie Green (D) · 8%
FL-3
Kat Cammack (R) · 95%
vs. Seth Harp (D) · 5%
FL-4 · open seat
Aaron Bean (R) · 83%
vs. LaShonda "LJ" Holloway (D) · 18%
Statement estimate · odds are a market close, not a poll
Kelly Kirschner
Candidate · U.S. House · Florida
Democrat · Challenger23%
Party to win · Kalshi
Oct 27, 2026 snapshot
7
Days to Nov 3
vs. Gruters (R)
The campaign · in their wordsRead Oct 19, 2026 ↗
“Courageous Leadership. For Our Families.”
Plank 1
Lower the Cost of Living
“My first priority is, lowering the cost of living for Gulf Coast families - and protecting the healthcare and retirement security you've already earned.”
Plank 2
Protect the Gulf Coast We Call Home
“Protect Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and our coastline by prohibiting offshore drilling, stopping open-water fish farming, and enforcing the Clean Water Act.”
Page titles and first lines from the campaign's site, unedited · kellykirschner.com
Where They Stand
EstimateNo votes yet, so this is read from the campaign’s own words.
Issue · by emphasisRead · talks about
Crime and justiceLeft 23
Left, 23 points from center
Energy and landL-lean 20
L-lean, 20 points from center
Health careLeans left
Leans left
Budget and taxesLeft 23
Left, 23 points from center
EducationL-lean 18
L-lean, 18 points from center
TradeL-lean 15
L-lean, 15 points from center
Foreign policyL-lean 20
L-lean, 20 points from center
The race · FL-16 · 7 days out
Sydney GrutersRepublican · challenger · Right 33 from statements77%Kelly KirschnerDemocrat · challenger · L-lean 21 from statements23%3321
Hollow = estimate from statements · solid = voting record
Money · FEC through Sep 30, 2026
Raised, 2026
From individuals
Itemized · 86% of individual
Named donors
The FEC doesn't name donors who give under $200, so their gifts count in Raised but not Itemized.
In their own words
“Invest in affordable energy that lowers your bills.”
“allow government to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices”
“Restore every cut. Protect every patient with a pre-existing condition.”
On the ballot with them · Florida
FL SenateMoody (R) vs. Nixon (D)89% · 12%FL Governor · open seatDonalds (R) vs. Jolly (D)79% · 22%FL-1Patronis (R) vs. Valimont (D)97% · 4%FL-2 · open seatRogers (R) vs. Green (D)90% · 8%FL-3Cammack (R) vs. Harp (D)95% · 5%FL-4 · open seatBean (R) vs. Holloway (D)83% · 18%
All 30 Florida races →Statement estimate · odds are a market close, not a poll