U.S. House, Florida 11th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Florida's 11th Congressional District?
No candidate in Florida's 11th Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Ralph Groves (7 of 15 criteria), James Pericola (6 of 15 criteria) and Joe Strada (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
Ralph Groves
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
James Pericola
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Joe Strada
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Ralph Groves
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
James Pericola
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Joe Strada
- On the record2026-06
Lives in Lake Mary in Seminole County, outside the 11th District, which covers Sumter and parts of Lake, Orange and Polk counties; his state qualifying address is in Lake Mary.
Sources: Winter Garden Vox, candidate profile, Florida Division of Elections, candidate detail
- On the record2026-07-29
Lent his campaign $5 million, which made up most of its receipts through July 29, 2026, per the FEC; the full $5 million was still owed to him at that date.
Sources: FEC candidate page, 2026 cycle, Winter Garden Vox, candidate profile
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Ralph Groves. Qualified with the state and has an FEC committee on file; FEC shows no 2026 financial data, consistent with raising under the reporting threshold. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
James Pericola. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Joe Strada. Filed a House candidate financial disclosure in July 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10081087, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Ralph Groves. Retired U.S. Army officer and war veteran who later served as a Defense Department civilian analyst. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Winter Garden Vox, Dec. 17, 2025, Campaign site, home page
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Ralph Groves. Defense Intelligence Agency civilian analyst from 1999 to 2018 and Army Reserve officer who says he commanded a liaison detachment and deployed to Iraq. Has not held public office.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Winter Garden Vox, Dec. 17, 2025
James Pericola. Attorney and small business owner who began his career working for Sen. Bob Graham and says he served in the Clinton administration. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, James Pericola, survey, West Orange Times & Observer, Aug. 5, 2026
Joe Strada. Founder and owner of Strada Services, a Central Florida air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and security company. Has not held public office.
Sources: Winter Garden Vox, candidate profile, Ballotpedia, Joe Strada
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Ralph Groves. Campaign site lists positions and position papers on war, defense industries, immigration, gun ownership and federal programs, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, home page
James Pericola. His Ballotpedia survey and newspaper questionnaires set out positions on costs, Social Security, Medicare and health care in general terms.
Sources: West Orange Times & Observer, Aug. 5, 2026, The Apopka Chief, July 28, 2026
Joe Strada. Publishes a short plan on term limits, a balanced budget amendment and congressional stock trading, in general terms; a local outlet called the campaign light on policy.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Winter Garden Vox, candidate profile
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Ralph Groves. Publishes positions and position papers on his campaign site and gave a long interview to a local outlet. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Ballotpedia, Ralph Groves
James Pericola. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and answered candidate questionnaires from the West Orange Times & Observer and The Apopka Chief. His campaign site blocks automated readers.
Sources: Ballotpedia, James Pericola, West Orange Times & Observer, Aug. 5, 2026
Joe Strada. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes issue pages.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Ralph Groves. Lives in Ocoee in west Orange County and once chaired the Libertarian Party of Orange County.
Sources: Winter Garden Vox, Dec. 17, 2025, Florida Division of Elections, candidate detail
James Pericola. Lives in Winter Garden in west Orange County and was raised in Central Florida. FEC by-state totals show about 41 percent of itemized individual contributions from Florida.
Sources: West Orange Times & Observer, Aug. 5, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Joe Strada. Lives in Lake Mary in Seminole County, outside the district, which covers Sumter and parts of Lake, Orange and Polk counties; his state qualifying address is in Lake Mary. FEC by-state totals show about 77 percent from Florida.
Sources: Florida Division of Elections, candidate detail, Winter Garden Vox, candidate profile, Winter Garden Vox, Dec. 17, 2025, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Ralph Groves. Chaired the Libertarian Party of Orange County. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: Winter Garden Vox, Dec. 17, 2025, FEC administrative fines search
James Pericola. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Joe Strada. Grew Strada Services into a company that his campaign describes as providing thousands of jobs. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC, and no FEC administrative fine was found.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Winter Garden Vox, candidate profile, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Ralph Groves. No public record found.
James Pericola. No public record found.
Joe Strada. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Florida's 11th Congressional District?
No candidate in Florida's 11th Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Ralph Groves (7 of 15 criteria), James Pericola (6 of 15 criteria) and Joe Strada (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Florida's 11th Congressional District in 2026?
Ralph Groves (Libertarian), James Pericola (Democratic), Joe Strada (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Ralph Groves a good candidate for Congress?
Ralph Groves has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is James Pericola a good candidate for Congress?
James Pericola has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Joe Strada a good candidate for Congress?
Joe Strada has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Florida race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Florida 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.