The Conservative Case for Sydney Gruters

Sydney Gruters is the Republican nominee for the U.S. House in Florida's 16th Congressional District, and she is endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Florida's 16th Congressional District covers all of Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties, parts of Sarasota and southern Pinellas, and a slice of southern Polk County around Fort Meade and Bradley Junction. Sydney Gruters is running for an open seat to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.

Quick facts: Sydney Gruters

• Office sought: U.S. Representative, Florida's 16th Congressional District
• Party: Republican
• Background: A native Floridian and working mother of three
• Career: Operations Director for U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (2007 to 2017); USDA Rural Development State Director for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands (2017 to 2019); District Director for U.S. Rep. Greg Steube (2019 to 2023); Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the New College Foundation
• Primary result: Won the August 18 Republican primary with 63.9 percent
• Endorsements: President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, Speaker Mike Johnson and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd

Who is Sydney Gruters?

Sydney Gruters has spent two decades doing the work of government close to home. She began as a congressional staffer in 2004 and spent more than a decade in Rep. Vern Buchanan's offices in Washington and Manatee County, the same seat she is now running to fill.

From 2019 through 2023 she was District Director for U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, the person who makes sure constituents get help with Social Security, veterans' benefits and federal agencies. Most recently she led the New College Foundation in Sarasota, a role she took shortly after Gov. DeSantis installed a conservative Board of Trustees at the college.

She is married to Joe Gruters, a Florida state senator and Chairman of the Republican National Committee. She has run on her own record, and the voters sided with her.

Why does her USDA experience matter to southern Polk?

In 2017, President Trump appointed Gruters State Director for USDA Rural Development in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. USDA Rural Development is the federal agency that helps rural communities with loans and grants for infrastructure, housing, broadband and business development.

In 2018 she was the administration's point person in Florida for a new $600 million federal investment in rural broadband. "Today, 80 percent of the 24 million American households that do not have 21st century high-speed internet are in rural areas," she said at the time. "That is unacceptable. America can do better for our rural citizens and for rural production sites that need e-Connectivity to continue to supply the nation and the world with food, fiber, minerals and manufactured products." She pledged that USDA would make sure the projects delivered "the most 'bang for the buck'" for rural homes, farms, schools and clinics.

That is exactly the kind of help the rural parts of District 16 need. Fort Meade, Bradley Junction, Hardee County and DeSoto County are rural communities. A freshman member of Congress who already knows how those federal programs work does not need a year to learn the system.

What does Sydney Gruters stand for?

Her campaign lays out a clear conservative agenda, in her words:

• Cost of living: "cut taxes and fight rising costs so working families can afford gas, groceries, and everyday essentials."
• Secure border: "work with President Trump and ICE to keep our families safe from violent criminals entering our country illegally."
• Housing: "curb overdevelopment and keep homeownership within reach for working families."
• Seniors and veterans: "strengthen veterans' benefits and protect Social Security and Medicare."
• Election security: "stand with President Trump to ensure our elections are secure."

"President Trump trusts me to work to lower the cost of living, cut taxes and regulations, and protect affordability for Southwest Florida families!" she says.

Who has endorsed Sydney Gruters?

On March 24, 2026, before she had even entered the race, President Donald J. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "Sydney Gruters has my Complete and Total Endorsement," adding that she would "Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, Champion School Choice, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment."

She is also endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Vern Buchanan himself. Law enforcement is behind her: all six county sheriffs in District 16, including Polk's Grady Judd, Hardee's Vent Crawford, DeSoto's Jim Potter, Manatee's Rick Wells, Sarasota's Kurt Hoffman and Pinellas's Bob Gualtieri. The Florida Police Benevolent Association and the National Association of Police Organizations back her too, as do the Hardee County Firefighters and the Suncoast Professional Firefighters and Paramedics.

Sheriff Judd endorsed her on June 9, 2026, because he wants her representing part of his county. "Sydney Gruters is the real deal," Judd said. "She understands that public safety is not a slogan. It is about backing the men and women who put on the badge, getting tough on criminals and making sure law-abiding families can live in peace." He added: "President Trump trusts Sydney, and so do I. She has the backbone, the experience, and the common sense to do the job."

Gruters answered with a promise: "In Congress, I will always back the blue, fight to secure the border and work with law enforcement to keep our communities safe."

Why should Polk County vote for Sydney Gruters?

• Trump and Sheriff Judd trust her. The President endorsed her before she launched, and Polk's own sheriff has her back.
• She knows the job. Nearly two decades of congressional and federal service mean she can help constituents on day one.
• She knows rural Florida. As USDA Rural Development State Director she worked on the programs that matter to Fort Meade and Bradley Junction.
• She keeps the seat in conservative hands. This is an open seat, and southern Polk deserves a strong conservative voice to follow Vern Buchanan.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sydney Gruters a conservative? Yes. President Trump endorsed her before she entered the race, and Gov. DeSantis, Speaker Mike Johnson and every sheriff in the district back her. She is running to cut taxes, secure the border and protect Social Security and Medicare.

Who endorsed Sydney Gruters? President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Vern Buchanan, all six District 16 sheriffs including Polk's Grady Judd, the Florida PBA and the Polk County Republican Executive Committee.

What will Sydney Gruters do for southern Polk? She brings direct experience with the USDA Rural Development programs that fund rural water, housing, broadband and business projects in places like Fort Meade.

Which Polk County voters are in District 16? Voters in a small part of southern Polk, around Fort Meade and Bradley Junction. Nearly all other Polk voters, about 97 percent, are in the 18th District. Your sample ballot from the Polk County Supervisor of Elections will confirm your district.

When is the election? Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting runs October 19 through October 31.

Is Sydney Gruters an incumbent? No. She is running for an open seat because Rep. Vern Buchanan is retiring.

How to vote in Polk County

Early voting runs from Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31, from 9 AM to 6 PM at any of Polk County's 10 early voting sites. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. For locations and vote-by-mail details, see the Polk County GOP Voter Guide.

Vote Sydney Gruters for U.S. House, Florida's 16th Congressional District.

Want to help? Volunteer today at polk.gop/volunteer.

Sources

• Sydney Gruters wins GOP nomination in race to succeed Vern Buchanan, Florida Politics (August 18, 2026)
• With Donald Trump's support in hand, Sydney Gruters launches run to succeed Vern Buchanan in Congress, Florida Politics
• Sydney Gruters wins Republican primary for Florida's 16th District, Bradenton Herald (August 18, 2026)
• Sydney Gruters for Congress campaign site
• President Donald J. Trump, Truth Social post endorsing Sydney Gruters (March 24, 2026), archived
• About Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• 2026 Florida congressional district map, Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research
• Upcoming Elections, Polk County Supervisor of Elections
• 'The real deal': Grady Judd endorses Sydney Gruters, making her six for six with CD 16 sheriffs, Florida Politics
• Government investing $600 million in rural broadband, Historic City News (May 1, 2018)

Paid political advertisement paid for by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd; Box 108, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.