Florida 17th District
Greg Steube (R) 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
Greg Steube
Republican · holds this seat today
BLiberty Score BOn the liberty side in 98 of 118 votes and bills.
Raised $1,587,827 since January 2025: 47% from PACs and other committees, 35% from people, 18% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Matthew Montavon
Democrat · retired UN food agency official and planner
FLiberty Score F33 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Montavon has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Montavon.
Raised $156,274 since January 2025: 75% from people, 25% the candidate’s own money. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Greg Steube. Greg Steube: B, 84 out of 100 from recorded votes. Matthew Montavon: F, 33 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
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.
Matthew Montavon, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Montavon, so the grade above comes from this list: what Montavon 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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Says in the News-Press questionnaire that the war in Iran should end swiftly, without naming a policy.
“We should end the war in Iran as swiftly as possible.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Ending the war with no policy, bill or vote named is unclear for anyone.
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Says the United States should fully support Ukraine and oppose Putin's attempt to expand Russian borders, in his answers to the News-Press candidate questionnaire.
“We need to fully support Ukraine and oppose Putin's attempt to expand Russian borders.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Ukraine against Putin is with liberty on free nations.
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Says the United States should not yield to China and should not cede its position as a world leader to it, without naming Taiwan or NATO.
“We are a world leader and should not willingly cede that position to China.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The words name China but no policy toward Taiwan, NATO or Ukraine, so they do not settle the measure.
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Says Congress should regulate AI and social media to prevent the spread of misinformation and hate.
“Congress should regulate AI and social media to prevent the spread of misinformation and hate.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government regulation of platforms aimed at misinformation is the against side of the free_speech measure.
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Said he would prefer a government-supported single-payer health system while being open to private options.
“government-supported single-payer kind of operation”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.
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His platform supports raising the Social Security earnings tax cap and taxing capital gains as ordinary income.
“I support raising the tax cap on earnings and taxing all income, including capital gains.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Higher taxes on earnings and capital gains is against liberty on free markets.
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Said ICE should be reformed heavily and abolished if it cannot be.
“ICE should be dramatically reformed, and if it can’t be, it should be abolished.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Abolishing ICE if it cannot be changed is against liberty on borders.
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His campaign site proposes a lawful process for people who are working in the local economy without status to earn legal status.
“Creating an organized, background-checked, and lawful process for individuals who are currently contributing to our local economy to earn legal status”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to legal status for those here illegally is against liberty on borders.
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His campaign site says the country must secure its borders and uphold the rule of law.
“We must secure our borders and uphold the rule of law”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border and enforcing the law is with liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Michael Quirk (Independent).
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 17th District
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