What do Manatee candidates think of new congressional map? Some raise suspicions
Candidates seeking to represent Manatee County in U.S. Congress are speaking out after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed new maps that increase a GOP advantage into law.
Among those changes are new boundaries for District 16, which includes Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties, as well as parts of Sarasota County and Pinellas County. Despite the changes, several candidates for the District 16 seat recently reaffirmed their commitment to representing the district.
The changes to Florida’s congressional map have already sparked legal challenges, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
In November, voters will elect a new representative to serve in the seat following incumbent U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s retirement. As of Friday, eight candidates have filed to run for District 16.
One of the most prominent candidates is Sydney Gruters, a New College administrator and the wife of Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters.
President Donald Trump endorsed Gruters before she even announced her Florida congressional bid and, since then, she received more endorsements from Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells, Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, state Sen. Jim Boyd and state Rep. Will Robinson.
In a recent press release, Gruters said she would continue running for District 16 under the state’s new boundaries.
“My career has been built around serving the people of Southwest Florida,” Gruters said. “I have worked with families, seniors, veterans, small business owners, agricultural communities, and local leaders across this region. I know the challenges they face because I have spent years helping them solve problems. This campaign is about making sure the people of this district have a strong voice, a steady hand, and someone who will fight for them every day.”
Democratic candidate Jonathan Harris, a Riverview resident, announced on Friday via his campaign website that he would also continue his District 16 campaign “following last-minute gerrymandering.”
“These changes don’t alter why I’m running or who I’m fighting for,” Harris said in the statement. “Regardless of how the lines are drawn, my commitment doesn’t change. I’m staying focused on the issues that matter most to the people of Tampa Bay.”
Harris said he would expand voter outreach and campaign organization to include the changes in the newly-proposed District 16 boundary.
“This campaign has always been about service — listening to people, showing up and delivering results for working families, not any one party or any one man,” Harris continued in the statement.
Edward Pope, a Republican candidate, said, while the changes are an important issue, it doesn’t alter his commitment to running for the seat.
“District 16 has always been made up of hardworking families, small business owners, veterans, law enforcement supporters, and people who want strong representation focused on real-world results rather than political gamesmanship,” Pope said in an email to the Bradenton Herald. “I believe voters are less concerned about how politicians redraw lines and more concerned about whether their representative understands their daily struggles and has the leadership experience to deliver results.”
Another candidate, Democrat Tamika Lyles of Polk County, said in a press release that she is focusing on fairness and accountability.
“When district lines are drawn in a way that weakens the voice of certain communities, it doesn’t just impact one group; it undermines the principle of equal representation for all,” Lyles said in a statement. “The Constitution is clear: no American’s vote should be diluted or diminished.”
She emphasized that one of her main concerns is making sure constituents have a voice.
“When voters lose their voice, working families lose their leverage,” her statement said. “And when that happens, the issues that matter most: affordable healthcare, fair wages, and support for our veterans get pushed aside. That’s not how government is supposed to work.”
Some criticize ‘suspicious’ District 16 boundaries
Some District 16 candidates said the congressional map changes raise red flags.
Eddie Speir, a Republican who lost to Buchanan in the 2024 primary and is running again in 2026, criticized the new congressional maps.
“This was horrible,” Speir said of the redistricting. “And to do so so close to the primary election doesn’t give grassroots conservatives, or the electorate, the time to really vet candidates on the Republican or Democrat side. And it hurts grassroots (candidates) more than others.”
Specifically, Speir called out the new boundaries being drawn so that Gruters now lives in District 16.
“That’s suspicious at best,” Speir said.
Due to the changes, he said he considered switching his campaign to District 14, since he would have lost nearly half of the voters he campaigned for due to the new maps. However, he told the Bradenton Herald Tuesday that he is sticking with District 16.
Manatee County resident Glenn Pearson is a Democratic candidate for District 16 and previously lost the 2024 election for a seat on the Manatee County Commission. He said the new District 16 map going from two counties to now including parts of five counties is “designed to confuse” voters.
“It went from that, to five (counties). It’s all confusing on purpose,” Pearson said. “This whole illegal redistricting stunt shows that Republicans know that they cannot win without cheating.”
Pearson added that he also believes the District 16 maps were drawn to favor Gruters.
Despite the district boundaries changing, Pearson said he’s sticking with his campaign focused on the economy and affordability.
“My message is not going to change regardless of how the lines are drawn,” Pearson said. “The message is the same and people want change.”
Mark Davis, a candidate with no party affiliation, also criticized the congressional map shakeup but added that he’s not intimidated.
“Florida Republicans are redrawing congressional maps in the middle of an election cycle because they see the political ground shifting beneath them,” Davis said in an email to the Herald. “I believe voters recognize what this is. Coercion. Republicans are not changing the maps because they are confident…they are changing them because they are worried... It’s bulls**t, but it’s expected when dealing with cowards.”
Democratic candidate Jan Schneider did not respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
The primary election will take place on Aug. 18.
