Ralph GrovesLibertarian
James PericolaDemocrat
Joe StradaRepublican
Who they are
Ralph Groves
Libertarian and Iraq War veteran who retired from the Army as a Major, and a former Defense Department analyst, by his own account.7 We scored the eight main positions on his Mission page and the Federal Government Help For Florida section on his Meet page.5, 7 His Home page lists "Support For Human Rights" as a position but gives it no text, so it isn't scored.6 His Position Papers page is dated 2019 to 2022 (gun paper dated 15 October 2019, revised 24 January 2020; abortion talk January 2022); we scored what's posted.8
James Pericola
Former presidential appointee and congressional staff member, by his own account.4 His single-page site lists five priorities on the Home page; all five were scored. A Spanish copy exists.4
Joe Strada
Business owner, by his own account.3 His site already styles him "Congressman-Elect", which is his campaign's label, not a race call from our sources.3 His Priorities page gives three plan items a paragraph each and lists 23 more with one line each; all 26 were scored.2
Abortion
Ralph Groves
Pro-life"Government exclusion from abortion means no government funding for Planned Parenthood." Also: "For the safety of women, rare abortions should be done in hospitals, not in outside clinics."
5Names a policy
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Nothing on this topic
Guns
Ralph Groves
Pro-gun ownership"He believes self-defense is a natural right." Position paper (dated 2019, revised 2020): "Expanded background checks will not keep guns out of the hands of criminals and gang members." It also says "better gun-safety measures (mandatory safety courses) are advisable, at least to prevent accidents"
5, 8Names a policy
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Nothing on this topic
Immigration and the border
Ralph Groves
Pro-legal immigration"He believes in simplified, reasonable immigration processes to enhance legal, regulated immigration."
5None of the six checks
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Secure the Border"Finish the wall, restore order, stop illegal crossings, and put American citizens first."
2Names a policy
Veterans
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Prioritize Veterans"Ensure veterans receive the care, respect, and benefits they earned through service."
2None of the six checks
Social Security, Medicare and seniors
Ralph Groves
Uphold beneficial programs"In Washington, Ralph Groves will uphold Social Security and Medicare, and will call for reduction of Federal taxes to stimulate the economy."
5None of the six checks
James Pericola
Protect Social Security & Medicare"Oppose any cuts or privatization of Social Security and Medicare, and push to let Medicare negotiate lower prescription drug costs for seniors."
4Names a policy
Joe Strada
Protect Social Security and Medicare"Keep the promises made to seniors and protect earned benefits."
2None of the six checks
Health care
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Protect Affordable Healthcare"Expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare by protecting the Affordable Care Act."
4Names a policy
Lower Housing & Insurance Costs"Secure federal funding to combat our housing crisis and lower property insurance costs."
4None of the six checks
Joe Strada
Make America Healthy Again"Confront chronic disease, improve food and health transparency, and support healthier American families."
2None of the six checks
Schools and education
Ralph Groves
Education"Ralph Groves applauds the abolition of the Federal Department of Education. Each state, including Florida, should manage education without Federal Government regulations." Also: "a broad range of options should be available to parents, including a voucher system and homeschooling."
5Names a policy
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Keep Politics Out of the Classroom"Stop taxpayer-funded indoctrination and refocus schools on reading, writing, math, history, and real skills."
2None of the six checks
Expand School Choice"Empower families with the freedom to choose the school, public, charter, private, or homeschool, that fits their child best."
2Names a policy
Child care and families
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Cut Taxes for Working Families"Work to eliminate income taxes for those making less than $100,000 a year and cut taxes for middle-class families."
4Names a policyIncludes a number or target
Joe Strada
Restore Parental Rights"Parents, not bureaucrats, should be the primary decision-makers in their children's education."
2None of the six checks
Protect Women's Sports"Keep men out of women's sports and protect fairness for girls and women."
2Names a policy
Energy and environment
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Unleash American Energy"Lower costs, restore energy independence, and stop punishing American workers and families."
2None of the six checks
Roads, transit and infrastructure
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Build Roads and Reduce Traffic"Fight for infrastructure that keeps pace with growth, improves mobility, and respects taxpayers."
2None of the six checks
Crime and public safety
Ralph Groves
Equal justice for all"There should be no government surveillance of religious establishments and their parishioners."
5Names a policy
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Stop the Cartels and Fentanyl"Treat cartel violence, human trafficking, and fentanyl as national security threats."
2None of the six checks
Restore Law and Order"Back law enforcement, punish violent offenders, and make communities safe again."
2None of the six checks
Elections and voting
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Protecting Our Democracy"James will fight to end gerrymandering, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and defend our democracy from MAGA attacks."
4Names a policy
Joe Strada
Secure Our Elections"Support voter ID, clean voter rolls, paper ballot accountability, and election integrity."
2Names a policy
Ethics, term limits and money in politics
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Investigate Congressional Insider Trading"Joe supports serious investigations into potential congressional insider trading and real accountability whenever a public official uses privileged information or public office for personal financial gain."
2None of the six checks
Enact Term Limits"Joe supports firm congressional term limits so new leaders can rise, new ideas can be heard, and public officials remember that they work for the people."
2Names a policy
Budget, debt and spending
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Balanced Budget"Joe supports a balanced budget amendment requiring Washington to live within its means, confront wasteful spending, and make honest decisions about national priorities."
2Names a policy
Slash Government Spending"Cut waste, fraud, and bloated bureaucracy before Washington asks taxpayers for another dime."
2None of the six checks
Line-Item Veto Power"Give the President a tool to strike wasteful spending from bloated bills."
2Names a policy
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Cut Burdensome Regulations"Get Washington out of the way so businesses can grow, hire, and compete."
2None of the six checks
Rebuild American Manufacturing"Bring supply chains, factories, and good-paying jobs back to the United States."
2None of the six checks
Buy American, Hire American"Reward companies that invest in American workers, not foreign outsourcing."
2None of the six checks
Defense and foreign policy
Ralph Groves
Anti-war"I will work with Congress to ensure that Presidents commit U.S. military forces overseas only for defense of the United States, and only for up to 60 days unless Congress authorizes an extended period of time." Also: "he calls for an immediate cease-fire with mediated peace talks, and opposes deepening of U.S. support for Ukraine"
6, 5Names a policy
Pro-U.S. Defense Industries"Ralph Groves believes U.S. defense industries should be allocated increased funding to restock our military that provided much equipment to Ukraine." Also: "his veteran status leads him to support Defend the Guard advocates, who strive to keep the Florida National Guard at home rather than allowing the Federal Government to deploy it to Ukraine or other overseas locations."
5Names a policy
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Stand Up to China"Protect American jobs, supply chains, farmland, technology, and national security."
2None of the six checks
Peace Through Strength"Rebuild military strength, deter enemies, support allies, and avoid weakness that invites conflict."
2None of the six checks
Rights and freedoms
Ralph Groves
Nothing on this topic
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Defend the Constitution"Protect freedom of speech, religious liberty, due process, and the right to keep and bear arms."
2None of the six checks
Protect Religious Liberty"Defend people of faith from government overreach and anti-religious discrimination."
2None of the six checks
How government works
Ralph Groves
Federal Government Help For Florida"he will ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency provides Florida with more grants for safe drinking water, e.g. to eliminate lead in water." Also: "he will push for the abolishment of the War on Drugs"
7Names a policy
James Pericola
Nothing on this topic
Joe Strada
Equal Laws for Congress"Members of Congress should live under the same laws they pass for everyone else."
2None of the six checks
Their record
Ralph Groves
- Army Major (retired 2010) and Defense Intelligence Agency analyst from 1999 to 2018, by his own account.6 That is military and job history; none of it ties to a scored issue as a specific action.
James Pericola
- "Served in President Clinton's Administration as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board", by his own account.4 That is job history; none of his five priorities ties to it.
- "He's already brought back millions in funding to central Florida during his career", by his own account, with no project named.4
Joe Strada
- Business owner, by his own account: "Joe Strada started in the skilled trades and grew a family-owned Central Florida company into thousands of careers and paid training pathways."3 That is job history; his Priorities page points to no vote, bill or program.
In their words
Ralph Groves
"Ralph Groves is your anti-war candidate."
Ralph Groves, campaign Mission page5
"My campaign will give the voters of the 11th Congressional District of Florida a third choice besides the Democrats and Republicans."
Ralph Groves, campaign Home page6
James Pericola
"Working in Washington, I've seen how broken the system is. I'm running to fight back."
James Pericola, campaign Home page4
"Caring for my aging mom, I've seen firsthand how complicated and expensive our healthcare system can be."
James Pericola, campaign Home page4
Joe Strada
"Washington has become far too comfortable serving itself."
Joe Strada, campaign Priorities page2
"Central Florida families cannot spend without limits, ignore the bill, and leave the balance to their children."
Joe Strada, campaign Priorities page2
Where we read it