Florida House District 5 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them

John Rutherford won · 56.4% to 43.6% · Called by AP on Nov 3

Rachel Grage (Democrat) and John Rutherford (Republican) are the nominees for Florida's 5th congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. John Rutherford is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Rachel Grage's campaign had raised $448,000 (through October 14, 2026) and John Rutherford's campaign $914,000 (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $602 for Rachel Grage and $0 against; $250 for John Rutherford and $0 against.

Rachel Grage (DEM), John Rutherford (REP, incumbent). 3 others filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.

Also on every Florida ballot: 3 statewide ballot measures → The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.

How to vote in Florida

From Florida's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.

Registration Register by Mon, Oct 5 (29 days before the election) (passed)Source: dos.fl.gov ↗Source: dos.fl.gov ↗
Early voting in person Sat, Oct 24 to Sat, Oct 31 (Mandatory start date (10th day before). Counties may start as early as Oct 19 (15th day before).) (passed)Source: dos.fl.gov ↗Source: dos.fl.gov ↗
By mail Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Thu, Oct 22 (5 pm on the 12th day before the election. This is the deadline for a ballot to be mailed.); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (Received by 7 pm local time on Election Day; the postmark does not count) (passed)Source: dos.fl.gov ↗
Election Day Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (passed)Source: dos.fl.gov ↗
ID at the polls Current, valid photo ID with signatureSource: dos.fl.gov ↗

Checked October 6, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

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Money in this race

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

John Rutherford (REP, incumbent)

Raised
$914K through 2026-10-14 individuals $331K · PACs $570K · from the candidate's other committees $12K · cash on hand $240K
Outside spending
$250 supporting Rutherford · latest reported 2026-05-05
Largest outside spenders
RNJ 2 SAVE AMERICA T/A RNJ 2 SA — $250 supporting Rutherford
Bundled through PACs
none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01
123 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
  • ACRON AVIATION COPILOT $2,000
  • AE INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS PAC INC. $2,500
  • AEROVIRONMENT, INC PAC $2,000
  • AIRBUS AMERICAS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
  • ALTRIA GROUP, INC. PAC (ALTRIAPAC) $2,500
  • AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE PAC - OKLAHOMA $3,500
  • AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATION PAC (SKINPAC) $1,000
  • AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK SURGERY ENT PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) $2,500
  • AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES (ACEC/PAC) $5,000
  • AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC (AIPAC) $1,000
  • AMERICAN MARITIME OFFICERS VOLUNTARY POLITICAL ACTION FUND (AMO) $1,000
  • AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION PHYSICAL THERAPY PAC (PT-PAC) $3,000
  • AMERICAN SPORTFISHING PAC $10K
  • AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS-PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL PAC (AWC WOOD-PAC) $1,000
  • ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC. PAC (ANDURIL PAC) $1,000
  • ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES INC. PAC $1,000
  • APPLIED INTUITION, INC. PAC (APPLIED PAC) $1,000
  • ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS PAC (RAILPAC) $1,000
  • BAE SYSTEMS INC. PAC (BAE SYSTEMS USA PAC) $10K
  • BAKER DONELSON BEARMAN CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ PC PAC $1,000
  • BHFS-E, PC PAC (BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK PAC) $1,000
  • BLUE ORIGIN LLC PAC (BLUE ORIGIN PAC) $4,500
  • BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY RAILPAC (BNSF RAILPAC) $2,000
  • CALPORTLAND COMPANY PAC (CALPORTLAND PAC) $2,500
  • CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PAC (CECU) $1,000
  • CENTER FOR SPORTFISHING POLICY PAC (CSP) AKA CENTER PAC $2,500
  • CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION PAC (CUC PAC) $500
  • CHEVRON EMPLOYEES PAC - CHEVRON CORPORATION (CEPAC) $1,000
  • CITIGROUP INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE - FEDERAL $1,000
  • CONSERVATIVE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP AND ENTERPRISE PAC $1,000
  • CROWLEY MARITIME CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC $5,000
  • CSX CORPORATION GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $10K
  • CUBIC CORPORATION EMPLOYEES' PAC $10K
  • DEFENDING THE AMERICAN DREAM PAC $10K
  • DOCUMENT STORAGE SYSTEMS, INC. (DSS PAC) $3,000
  • ELBIT SYSTEMS OF AMERICA LLC PAC (ELBIT AMERICA PAC) $1,000
  • EMBRAER AIRCRAFT HOLDING INC PAC (EMBRAER PAC) $10K
  • EMPLOYEES OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION PAC (ENGPAC) $10K
  • EMPLOYEES OF RTX CORPORATION PAC $10K
  • ENGINEERING AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS, INC. PAC (ES3) $10K
  • FAEGRE DRINKER PAC (FAEGRE DRINKER PAC) $2,500
  • FAIRBANKS MORSE, LLC PAC $2,000
  • GENERAL ATOMICS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY AEROSPACE EMPLOYEE PAC (GE AEROSPACE PAC) $3,000
  • HERMEUS CORPORATION PAC $5,000
  • HERZOG PAC $2,500
  • HOLLAND & KNIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $1,000
  • HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL PAC $2,500
  • HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES, INC. EMPLOYEES PAC (HIIPAC) $2,000
  • IMMIGRANT INVESTORS ASSOCIATION, INC./INVEST IN THE USA PAC (IIUSA PAC) $1,000
  • JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORPORATION CREWMEMBER GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $4,000
  • JM FAMILY ENTERPRISES, INC. PAC $2,500
  • JOHNSON & JOHNSON PAC $7,000
  • KING & SPALDING NONPARTISAN COMMITTEE FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT $5,000
  • L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. PAC $1,000
  • LEIDOS INC. PAC $10K
  • LEONARDO DRS PAC $2,500
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN EMPLOYEES' POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • MATSON, INC. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • MEDTRONIC INC. PAC $1,000
  • MERCURY SYSTEMS INC. EMPLOYEES' PAC (MRCYPAC) $3,500
  • MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION FURTHERING AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL MISSISSIPPIANS FUND PAC (MFBF) $1,500
  • MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (MORPAC) $3,000
  • MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. PAC $10K
  • MR. SOUTHERN MISSOURIAN IN THE HOUSE PAC $5,000
  • NAMMO INC EMPLOYEE PAC $2,000
  • NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION PAC (NATCA) $3,000
  • NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF FOREST OWNERS PAC (NAFO PAC) $2,000
  • NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION PAC $10K
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES PAC (NACS) $1,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS PAC (RPAC) $5,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANGERS, INC. PAC (NARPM PAC) $6,000
  • NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NADAPAC) $5,000
  • NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION PAC (NBWA) $2,500
  • NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP FUND (NCLF-PAC) $2,000
  • NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS FREE ENTERPRISE PAC $1,000
  • NATIONAL LIMOUSINE ASSOCIATION PAC (NLA PAC) $1,000
  • NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION AND MARINE RETAILERS ASSOCIATION BOAT PAC (BOATPAC) $1,000
  • NATIONAL MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL PAC (NMHC) $2,000
  • NATIONAL PROPANE GAS ASSOCIATION PAC $10K
  • NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION, INC. PAC (NSSF PAC) $5,000
  • NEXTERA ENERGY, INC. PAC $2,000
  • NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $2,000
  • NRA-POLITICAL VICTORY FUND $1,000
  • OSI SYSTEMS INC PAC OSI PAC $1,000
  • OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION INC PAC $2,500
  • PARKER -HANNIFIN CORPORATION PAC $5,000
  • PROFESSIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SPECIALISTS (PASS) PAC $2,000
  • PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS INC ASSOCIATES PAC $2,500
  • RAPTOR PAC $2,000
  • RAYONIER GOOD GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE $2,000
  • REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION PAC $2,000
  • REPUBLICAN GOVERNANCE GROUP/TUESDAY GROUP PAC $8,000
  • REPUBLICANS UNITED TO DEFEND YOU PAC $1,000
  • ROBOTIC RESEARCH OPCO LLC-FORTERRA PAC $3,500
  • RUDY FOR INDIANA $4,000
  • SAILDRONE INC. PAC (SAILPAC) $1,000
  • SALTCHUK RESOURCES INC PAC $5,000
  • SERCO INC. PAC (SERCO PAC) $2,500
  • SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION (SNC) PAC $4,000
  • SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS PAC $1,000
  • SOUTHEAST COTTON COMMITTEE (SECC) SOUTHERN COTTONGROWERS INC/SE COTTON GINNERS ASSN $1,000
  • SOUTHEASTERN LUMBER MANUFACTURERS ASSOC PAC $1,500
  • SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. PAC $10K
  • SWISHER INTERNATIONAL INC PAC FUND $10K
  • TECO ENERGY INC EMPLOYEES' PAC (TEPAC) $1,000
  • THE BOEING COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • THE GEO GROUP, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GEO) $5,000
  • U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
  • UNION PACIFIC CORP. FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $2,000
  • UNITED EGG ASSOCIATION EGGPAC $1,000
  • UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC. PAC (UPSPAC) $1,000
  • UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN PAC, $10K
  • US ONCOLOGY INC. NETWORK PAC $1,000
  • VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • WALMART INC. PAC FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT (WALPAC) $2,000
  • WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY PAC $1,000
  • WOOLPERT, INC. PAC $6,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

What this page is

  • An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in FL; or it ran mostly in FL and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
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