Florida 14th District
Kathy Castor (D) holds this seat and is running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Kathy Castor
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 53 of 118 votes and bills.
Raised $4,930,537 since January 2025: 62% from people, 29% from PACs and other committees, 9% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Mike Beltran
Republican · former Florida state representative, attorney
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Beltran has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Beltran.
Raised $2,731,428 since January 2025: 74% the candidate’s own money, 12% from people, 8% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Mike Beltran. Mike Beltran: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Kathy Castor: F, 40 out of 100 from recorded votes.
Voting in Florida: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Mike Beltran, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Beltran, so the grade above comes from this list: what Beltran has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Asked about the Islamic Republic's nuclear material, he said no to ground troops but said that if the material cannot be recovered it should be bombed, and failing that its centrifuges disrupted.
“if that's not feasible, you bomb it. And if that's just not feasible, you just disrupt their ability to have these centrifuges”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Backing American military action against the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme is with liberty on tyranny.
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He said Ukraine and Israel are defending themselves well, in an argument that wealthy allies should pay more for their own defence.
“You see Ukraine and Israel, they're defending themselves from their adversaries. They're doing a good job of that.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He names Israel but states no position on its weapons or aid, so the words do not settle the measure.
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He said NATO allies should spend more on their own defence and that the United States should stop subsidising wealthy allies such as Germany and Spain.
“They should be doing more, and they're doing less, and that's unacceptable.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Demanding more spending from allies is neither backing nor leaving NATO, so the words do not settle the measure.
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He said Israel has the right to defend itself.
“I believe Israel has the right to defend themselves.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Israel's right to defend itself is with liberty on free nations.
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He said he is not a fan of government intervening in the economy and is for limited government.
“I'm not a fan of government intervening in the economy.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government intervention in the economy is with liberty on free markets.
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He said he opposed taxpayer-funded gender surgeries for minors.
“I see no reason why a single mother here in Hillsborough County should be paying taxes to pay for trans surgeries for minors”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing public funding of gender transition procedures for minors is with liberty on equal rights.
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He said anyone apprehended who is not lawfully in the country should be deported.
“If we apprehend somebody who is not lawfully in the United States, then the government should deport them,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Deporting those here unlawfully is with liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Brian Lambert (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Florida 14th District
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