Sydney Gruters wins District 16 House race to succeed Vern Buchanan

Republican Sydney Gruters won the race for the District 16 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding longtime Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan. The district includes portions of Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas counties. Buchanan’s retirement opened the seat that Gruters contested against former Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner.

Gruters, 45, is a working mother of three and the wife of Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters. Born in Florida, she spent more than a decade working for Buchanan in Washington. Her most recent position was executive director of the New College Foundation in Sarasota.

Her campaign collected $1.6 million, roughly double the amount raised by Kirschner, according to Ballotpedia. Gruters did not debate her opponent and did not answer voter guide questions submitted by either WUSF or Ballotpedia.

On her campaign website, Gruters emphasized border security, reducing everyday costs through conservative policies and bolstering benefits for veterans. The site also featured a photograph of her smiling beside President Donald Trump, alongside a social media post drawing attention to his endorsement.

Gruters secured support from numerous prominent Republicans, including Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Rick Scott and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Buchanan also endorsed her bid to succeed him. Other backers included police and fire unions and the sheriffs of Sarasota and Pinellas counties.

The campaign drew criticism over an advertisement that used imagery generated by artificial intelligence to depict Kirschner in a perp walk. The image placed a sign on his chest reading “Too Risky for Florida.” Kirschner, who has never been arrested, and Republicans supporting him criticized the advertisement.

The Bradenton Times reported that the advertisement formed part of a large spending effort by Gruters and affiliated super PACs to characterize Kirschner as a radical extremist. That effort accompanied a contest in which Gruters held a substantial fundraising lead over the former mayor.

Kirschner, a single father and former Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala, received endorsements from the Florida Education Association, the Florida AFL-CIO and the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida. His support also extended to some Republicans, including former Congressman Dan Miller, who served five terms, and Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse. Those endorsements put Republican figures on both sides of the contest, although Gruters had the backing of numerous party leaders.