U.S. House, Florida 16th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated October 9, 2026

Who should I vote for in Florida's 16th Congressional District?

Kelly Kirschner has the strongest record in Florida's 16th Congressional District. Kelly Kirschner scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Sydney Gruters at 53 and Mark Davis at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Kelly Kirschner's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sydney Gruters's highest marks are relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

No Party Affiliation

Mark Davis

53 / 100

Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 55
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Republican

Sydney Gruters

53 / 100

Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 55
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Democratic

Strongest record

Kelly Kirschner

63 / 100

Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 70
Performance: 75

Campaign site FEC filings

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.

Mark Davis

Unresolved2026-07-28
Arrested July 28, 2026 by Manatee County deputies and charged with obstruction without violence during a court-ordered child welfare check at his home; released on bond.
Where it stands: Misdemeanor charge filed by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office; no court disposition found as of 2026-10-09. Davis told WWSB the underlying DCF complaint was false.
Sources: WWSB ABC7, July 30, 2026, Tampa Bay 28 (WFTS)

Sydney Gruters

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Kelly Kirschner

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Who they are

Character

Integrity

Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.

2 / 4

Mark Davis. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed Sept. 11, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082830, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed July 18, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076103, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed June 1, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10079863, FEC administrative fines search

Courage

Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.

Mark Davis. No public record found.

Sydney Gruters. No public record found.

Kelly Kirschner. No public record found.

Accountability

Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.

2 / 4

Mark Davis. Took part in the Sept. 23, 2026 League of Women Voters general election forum and an earlier candidate event in Brandon.

Sources: WWSB ABC7, Sept. 23, 2026, WMNF 88.5 FM

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Took part in the Sept. 23, 2026 League of Women Voters general election forum with Kelly Kirschner and Mark Davis.

Sources: WWSB ABC7, Sept. 23, 2026, WUSF, Sept. 24, 2026

2 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Took part in the Sept. 23, 2026 League of Women Voters general election forum with Sydney Gruters and Mark Davis.

Sources: WWSB ABC7, Sept. 23, 2026, WUSF, Sept. 24, 2026

Temperament and judgment

Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.

Mark Davis. No public record found.

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Worked more than 10 years for Rep. Vern Buchanan, served as a USDA state director, as district director for Rep. Greg Steube and as executive director of the New College Foundation. No conduct finding found.

Source: Florida’s Voice, March 23, 2023

2 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Served as a Sarasota city commissioner and mayor, then as a vice president and dean at Eckerd College. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.

Source: Your Observer, May 3, 2026

Fidelity to the oath

Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.

2 / 4

Mark Davis. Served eight years in the U.S. Air Force (2005 to 2013). No official finding of misuse found.

Sources: WMNF 88.5 FM, Ballotpedia, Mark Davis

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Served in a federal post as Florida and U.S. Virgin Islands state director for USDA Rural Development after a 2017 appointment. No official finding of misuse found.

Source: Florida’s Voice, March 23, 2023

2 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Held sworn office as a Sarasota city commissioner from 2007 and mayor from 2010. No official finding of misuse of office found.

Source: Your Observer, May 3, 2026

What they bring

Qualifications

Relevant experience

Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.

2 / 4

Mark Davis. Served eight years in the Air Force and spent 16 years in corporate work; owns a small business. Has not held public office.

Sources: WMNF 88.5 FM, Ballotpedia, Mark Davis

3 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Former USDA Rural Development state director for Florida, congressional district director and longtime congressional aide, and executive director of the New College Foundation.

Source: Florida’s Voice, March 23, 2023

3 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Former Sarasota city commissioner (elected 2007) and mayor (2010), later vice president and dean of executive and continuing education at Eckerd College.

Source: Your Observer, May 3, 2026

Command of the job

Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.

2 / 4

Mark Davis. Publishes issue positions, including single-payer health care and a pledge to take a reduced salary, mostly in general terms.

Source: WMNF 88.5 FM

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Publishes priorities on cost of living, border security, inflation, election security, housing, seniors and veterans in general terms.

Source: Campaign site, Priorities

3 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Publishes specific federal proposals, including a ban on offshore drilling, government negotiation of drug prices, Clean Water Act enforcement and conditions on AI data centers.

Source: Campaign site, Priorities

Communication

Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.

3 / 4

Mark Davis. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026, publishes campaign issue pages and took part in candidate forums.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Mark Davis, Campaign site, home page, WWSB ABC7, Sept. 23, 2026

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Publishes issue statements and took part in a general election forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.

Sources: Campaign site, Priorities, WWSB ABC7, Sept. 23, 2026, Ballotpedia, Sydney Gruters

3 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026, publishes issue pages and took part in a general election forum.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Kelly Kirschner, Campaign site, Priorities, WWSB ABC7, Sept. 23, 2026

Roots in the constituency

Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.

2 / 4

Mark Davis. His filing address is in Parrish, in Manatee County, which is wholly within the district. FEC by-state totals show about 39 percent of itemized individual contributions from Florida.

Sources: Florida Division of Elections, candidate detail, WWSB ABC7, Sept. 23, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Lives in Sarasota, part of which is in the redrawn district, and describes herself as a native Floridian. FEC by-state totals show about 89 percent of itemized individual contributions from Florida.

Sources: Florida’s Voice, March 23, 2023, Campaign site, Meet Sydney, FEC contribution totals by state

3 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Former Sarasota mayor and city commissioner, the son of a former Sarasota mayor. FEC by-state totals show about 93 percent of itemized individual contributions from Florida.

Sources: Your Observer, May 3, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state

Management

Can build and run an organization.

2 / 4

Mark Davis. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Sydney Gruters. Led the New College Foundation as executive director from 2023. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, with no administrative fine found.

Sources: Florida’s Voice, March 23, 2023, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Served as a college vice president and dean. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, with no administrative fine found.

Sources: Your Observer, May 3, 2026, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

What they deliver

Performance

Results

Turns ideas into outcomes.

Mark Davis. No public record found.

Sydney Gruters. No public record found.

Kelly Kirschner. No public record found.

Showing up

Does the basic work of the job.

Mark Davis. No public record found.

Sydney Gruters. No public record found.

Kelly Kirschner. No public record found.

Constituent service

Solves problems for the people they represent.

Mark Davis. No public record found.

Sydney Gruters. No public record found.

Kelly Kirschner. No public record found.

Coalition building

Wins support beyond their own faction.

Mark Davis. No public record found.

Sydney Gruters. No public record found.

3 / 4

Kelly Kirschner. Endorsed in September 2026 by several Republican officials, including Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse and former Republican Congressman Dan Miller.

Source: The Bradenton Times, Sept. 15, 2026

Stewardship of public money

Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.

Mark Davis. No public record found.

Sydney Gruters. No public record found.

Kelly Kirschner. 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 16th Congressional District?

Who is running in Florida's 16th Congressional District in 2026?

Mark Davis (No Party Affiliation), Sydney Gruters (Republican), Kelly Kirschner (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.

Is Mark Davis a good candidate for Congress?

Mark Davis scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Sydney Gruters a good candidate for Congress?

Sydney Gruters scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Kelly Kirschner a good candidate for Congress?

Kelly Kirschner scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

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.