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5th Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 5th District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Rep. John Rutherford (R) is the incumbent and a former Duval County sheriff. Rachel Grage (D) worked as a biomedical engineer. Rutherford leads by 42,796 votes of 333,038 cast, and the result is unofficial until certified. Check your own address on the Florida Division of Elections voter lookup to confirm your district.

Rutherford leadsAll counties reporting; unofficial until certified1
56.43%Rutherford (R): 187,9171
43.57%Grage (D): 145,1211
42,796Vote margin of 333,038 cast1

Do they have a plan?

We read every issue on each candidate's own website and checked the same six things for every one. We count what's there. We don't grade whether the ideas are good. Read the full scoring rules

Of the issues on their website, how many...Rachel GrageJohn H. Rutherford
Names a policy3 of 6
5 of 6
Says how they'd do it0 of 6
0 of 6
Includes a number or target0 of 6
0 of 6
Says how it's paid for0 of 6
0 of 6
Gives a timeline0 of 6
0 of 6
Points to a record0 of 6
3 of 6

The candidates, side by side

Each topic shows every candidate's own words on it, in alphabetical order, from their own website. "Nothing on this topic" means their site doesn't cover it. Topic rows are grouped by us from their headings; the scores don't change.

Rachel GrageDemocrat
John H. RutherfordRepublican
Who they are
Rachel Grage
Biomedical engineer by training, by her site. Her home page lists six issues under What I Stand For. Her site links her Substack; statements there that match her six headings are credited to those headings (8/19/2026 post). Other Substack posts carry no plan on her headings.
John H. Rutherford
U.S. Representative (incumbent) and former Duval County sheriff, by his site. Six priorities on one short page; two of the bills it cites are from 2019.
Immigration and the border
Rachel Grage
Secure Borders & Fair Immigration"Ensure America's borders are secure through smart, efficient enforcement, while maintaining a fair and humane immigration system that respects due process." On her Substack: "pass immigration reform with clear and obtainable pathways to citizenship."5, 6
Names a policy
John H. Rutherford
Making Communities Safer"Authored STOP School Violence Act and got it signed into law by President Trump to make our schools safer". "Voted to fund building President Trump's border wall, secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws".2
Names a policyPoints to a record
Veterans
Rachel Grage
Nothing on this topic
John H. Rutherford
Supporting Our Military & Veterans"Voted to reform the VA and hold its employees accountable for the way they treat our heroes". "Led the effort to provide grant money for programs that help veterans transition from active duty service to civilian life (H.R. 1599, 2019)".2
Names a policyPoints to a record
Social Security, Medicare and seniors
Rachel Grage
Protect Medicare & Social Security"Safeguard earned benefits and ensure long-term solvency for seniors and future generations."5
None of the six checks
John H. Rutherford
Nothing on this topic
Health care
Rachel Grage
Nothing on this topic
John H. Rutherford
Improving Our Healthcare System"Protect pre-existing condition coverage". "Fought for dependents to stay on parents' insurance until age 26".2
Names a policy
Energy and environment
Rachel Grage
Protect Florida's Environment"Defend coastal ecosystems, expand conservation funding, and invest in disaster resilience."5
None of the six checks
John H. Rutherford
Promoting Our Quality of Life"Worked to protect our beaches, ocean, and waterways from offshore drilling". "Fought for funding to rebuild our communities in the wake of deadly hurricanes".2
Names a policy
Ethics, term limits and money in politics
Rachel Grage
Accountability & Trust in Government"Increase transparency in campaign finance, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and hold public officials to the same standards expected of every citizen." On her Substack: "We will prohibit members of Congress from trading stocks." "We will vote to overturn Citizens United so we can get corporate dark money out of politics."5, 6
Names a policy
John H. Rutherford
Nothing on this topic
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Rachel Grage
Lower Costs & Strengthen the Middle Class"Work to keep healthcare premiums and prescription costs affordable, maintain federal cost-sharing supports, and stabilize home insurance." On her Substack: "We can restore the Affordable Care Act subsidies to provide immediate relief."5, 6
Names a policy
John H. Rutherford
Making Life Affordable Again"Fighting inflation by blocking new taxes and slashing existing taxes". "Promoting commonsense legislation to help cut grocery, gas, and electric costs".2
None of the six checks
Creating Jobs"Voted to support President Trump's tax cuts for families and small businesses, putting more money in your pocket and creating more jobs in our communities".2
Names a policyPoints to a record
Rights and freedoms
Rachel Grage
Protect Individual Rights & Freedoms"Protect personal privacy and access to healthcare, ensure equality under the law for all Americans, and uphold dignity and due process in immigration policy."5
None of the six checks
John H. Rutherford
Nothing on this topic
Their record
Rachel Grage
  • Worked as a biomedical engineer and served as an elected homeowner's association president, by her own account.5 Her site lists no elected public office.
John H. Rutherford
  • Former Duval County Sheriff, by his site.4 His priorities page says he "Authored STOP School Violence Act and got it signed into law by President Trump."2
In their words
Rachel Grage

"I'm not asking you to vote against something. I'm asking you to vote for something better."

Rachel Grage, campaign site5

"she will put her expertise in the healthcare field to work fighting for lower insurance costs"

Rachel Grage, campaign site5
John H. Rutherford

"He's a commonsense conservative leader that works hard to bring people together to get things done for our communities."

John Rutherford, campaign site4

"John Rutherford is a true public servant who has protected and defended our community for years."

John Rutherford, campaign site3
Where we read it
Rachel Grage
Website: rachelgrage.com/ (checked 11/5/2026)
John H. Rutherford
Website: johnrutherfordforcongress.com/priorities/ (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Both name lower health costs. Rutherford: "Lower prescription drug costs for everyone."2 Grage: "Work to keep healthcare premiums and prescription costs affordable."5
  • Both name Florida's coast. Rutherford: "Worked to protect our beaches, ocean, and waterways from offshore drilling."2 Grage: "Defend coastal ecosystems, expand conservation funding, and invest in disaster resilience."5
  • Both say the border should be secure. Rutherford: "secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws."2 Grage: "Ensure America's borders are secure through smart, efficient enforcement."5

Where they really split

  • Immigration: Rutherford "Voted to fund building President Trump's border wall."2 Grage wants "a fair and humane immigration system that respects due process" and "pathways to citizenship."5, 6
  • Cutting costs: Rutherford starts with "Fighting inflation by blocking new taxes and slashing existing taxes."2 Grage: "maintain federal cost-sharing supports, and stabilize home insurance."5

What each one leaves out

  • Rutherford's six priorities name a vote, bill or policy on five. They give no details, numbers, costs or dates, and two of the bills cited are from 2019.2
  • Grage's six issues name a policy on three once her linked Substack is counted (health subsidies, a stock-trading ban and Citizens United, immigration pathways). None has details, numbers, costs or dates, and her site lists no votes or bills.5, 6
Sources (checked 11/5/2026)
  1. Florida Division of Elections, Florida Election Watch, unofficial (all 67 counties at 100% of precincts reporting): floridaelectionwatch.gov/FederalOffices/USRepresentative
  2. John Rutherford campaign, Priorities: johnrutherfordforcongress.com/priorities/
  3. John Rutherford campaign, Home: johnrutherfordforcongress.com/
  4. John Rutherford campaign, Meet John: johnrutherfordforcongress.com/meet-john/
  5. Rachel Grage campaign, Home: rachelgrage.com/
  6. Rachel Grage campaign Substack, "Let's show Rutherford the door!" (8/19/2026): rachelgrage4fl.substack.com/p/lets-show-rutherford-the-door