The qualifying deadline for federal and judicial candidates has now passed. This means no new candidates will enter the race for Congressional District 19 to replace Byron Donalds, who is running for Florida Governor.

The qualifying period for Federal and Judicial offices ends on April 24th. After that date, we will see which candidates remain from the current field of Republican hopefuls.

Nine Republican are currently vying for the nomination Congressional District 19 (currently held by Byron Donalds:

• Madison Cawthorne
• Chris Collins
• Ola Hawatmeh
• Dylan Modarelli
• James Oberweis
• Mike Pedersen
• Linda Sawyer
• Jim Schwartzel
• John Strand.

Congressional District 18 (Covering Immokalee) has only incumbent Scott Franklin on the Republican ticket. Congressional District 26, seat currently held by Mario Diaz-Balart has no Republicans running against Diaz-Balart.

US Senator Ashley Moody, as an opponent in Christopher Gleason, Michaelangelo Collins Hamilton (I’m not making that up), and Neelam Taneja Perry.

Local and State of Florida Races

Governor Race

The Florida Governor’s Race has our very own Byron Donalds, with a strong poll advantage will be running against a slew of opponents, with the top three also rans, begin Lt Governor Jay Collins, Former Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner, and outspoken candidate James Fishback, and 11 total running for the Republican ticket.

Chief Financial Officer has four that have filed to run. They include:

• Blaise Ingoglia (incumbent)
• Frank William Collage
• Joe Gruters
• Kevin Steele

Commissioner of Agriculture

Two Republican candidates have filed. They include:

• Richard Earl Olle Jr.
• Matt The Welder (I’m not making that up)

State Attorney – Amira Fox (incumbent) is running unopposed.

State Senator (District 28): Lauren Melo (unopposed in the Republican primary)

State Representative Races 80 and 81 currently have no Republican challengers filed for the seats held by Adam Botana and Yvette Benarroch, respectively.

House District 82 (Lauren Melo’s former seat in eastern Collier County) has three Republican candidates:

• Bill Poteet
• Liesa Priddy
• Hugo Vargas

(Note: Drew Montez-Clark has publicly withdrawn.)

State Legislative and Local Races – May 11^th is the deadline to file for County and District candidates. The qualifying period ends June 12^th.

Collier County Commission

The Republicans signed up in the local races include: 

Collier County Commission District 2

• Chris Hall (Incumbent) His opponent Ron Kezeske has publicly announced he will not be running)

Collier County Commission District 4

• Daniel Kowal (Incumbent)
• Daniel Zegarac

All of the area judges are unopposed

Collier County School Board (Nonpartisan)

Collier County School District 1

• Jeff Donaldson
• Stephanie Nordin
• Democrat Opponent filed

Collier County School District 3

• Kelly Mason
• Democrat opponent file

Collier County School District 5

• Tiim Moshier
• Democrat opponent filed

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 1

• Dave Farmer (Unopposed)

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 2

• Sandra Lee Buxton
• Democrat opponent filed

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 3

• Ed Brandt
• Jay Kohlhagen

Greater Naples FD (E Naples Division) Seat 1

• Mark Cherney (unopposed)

Greater Naples FD Seat 3

• Brian Cross (unopposed)

Greater Naples FD (Golden Gate Div) Seat 4

• Patrick Dearborn (Unopposed)

Immokalee Fire District Seat 1

• Donald Gunthner (unopposed)

Immokalee Fire District Seat 4

• No Republican Candidate

Pelican March CDD Seat 3

• Brent Smith

Other pertinent dates:

Primary Election

July 4 – Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots uniformed and overseas voters (UOCACA).^th

July 9 – Beginning of mandatory window to mail domestic vote-by-mail ballots

August 9 – First day of early voting

August 6 (Thursday 5 pm)  – Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed.

August 15 Last day of early voting

August 18 (Tuesday) Primary Election Day: Polls are open 7 am to 7 pm

As 2025 draws to a close, I look back with genuine pride on what we’ve accomplished together. This has been an outstanding year for our club.

We welcomed an impressive wave of new members who have already brought fresh energy and ideas to our gatherings. Our speaker series was nothing short of exceptional—thought-provoking, inspiring, and packed with insights that challenged and motivated us all. Most importantly, our fundraising efforts reached new heights, enabling us to award more scholarships than ever before and to expand our support for the veterans who have sacrificed so much for our nation.

None of this would have been possible without your steadfast commitment and generosity. Thank you.

Looking ahead to 2026, the best is yet to come—if we continue standing together. Your renewed membership is the foundation that allows us to bring in top-tier speakers, host meaningful events, and sustain our vital community outreach.

Here’s a preview of what’s in store:

• A powerhouse speaker lineup featuring bold voices on the issues that matter most to us
• Candidate forums spotlighting the key competitive races that will shape our future
• Special programming focused on military excellence and patriotism as we join the nation in celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary

Let’s make 2026 another banner year for The Right Men’s Club. Please renew your membership today and invite a like-minded friend to join us. Together, we’ll keep building a stronger, more vibrant community rooted in principle, service, and fellowship.

Wishing you and your families a joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

In camaraderie,

Russell Tuff

President

The Right Men’s Club

I am delighted to reflect on the success of our August meeting, where we were honored to hear from our guest speaker, Erika Donalds. She provided insightful updates on educational developments under the Trump Administration and recent legislative and executive actions in the State of Florida. Her presentation highlighted a promising future for education, inspiring optimism for our community and beyond.

We also had the privilege of hearing from four of our scholarship recipients, who are excelling in their college journeys. Their achievements reflect the impact of our commitment to education, as we proudly awarded $22,000 in scholarships this year, including $2,000 annually to each of these talented students. Their words filled us with pride and reaffirmed our dedication to supporting the next generation.

Our ongoing efforts to fund scholarships and veteran services are made possible through the success of our annual Salute to Veterans event. This year, we are thrilled to welcome Congressman Byron Donalds as our featured speaker. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, we will also host special speakers in the VIP room for an exclusive meet-and-greet, promising an unforgettable evening of fellowship and patriotism. See Details Here

Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our mission. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events as we continue to make a meaningful impact in Collier County.

The political landscape is shifting, and we’re witnessing it firsthand. Governor Ron DeSantis, now in the final stretch of his term, faces challenges as House President Daniel Perez asserts his influence, aiming to steer the ship in Tallahassee. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump contends with resistance from some Republican Senators who seem more focused on personal agendas than delivering on the promises made to the American people.

What’s our response? We look ahead to the 2026 elections and take charge of shaping our future. It’s time to ensure that our elected officials in Collier County and beyond are true representatives of our values—leaders who prioritize the will of their constituents over power plays or timid compromise.

Let’s examine the offices up for election in Collier County in 2026.

View the list by clicking here

Coming off a successful 2024, we are not resting on our laurels for 2025. The board recently met to finalize our goals for the year. You can view them here. We’d encourage you to lend a helping hand.

Last year, we awarded over $20,000 in scholarships to Republican students. However, we aim to do more than assist a limited number of students. Our focus is on engaging young people and maintaining their involvement by supporting existing organizations and creating new ones for sustained success in upholding our shared values into the future.

The election of Donald J. Trump has paved the way for young people to witness the benefits of policies that build on our country’s founding ideals. By actively involving the next generation, we can further solidify these principles.

Join us at our February breakfast to explore upcoming technologies and learn how to integrate them into your life. Learn more here.

Join us January 28th for our Right Connections Social, where we provide the treats, and you provide the drinks, and we meet in a casual setting. See details below.