Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford seeks his fifth term In Congress representing Florida’s 5th Congressional District, and he’s far and away first in the fundraising race.
As of the first quarterly report of the year, Rutherford has raised nearly $530,000. He has eclipsed the $400,000 cash on hand mark, with nearly $180,000 brought in during the first three months of 2026. Political Action Committees related to business groups and corporations contributed $116,000 during the period.
Though the district, which includes portions of Duval and St. Johns Counties, is drawn with a Republican advantage, one Democrat is making a decent showing in her own right.
Rachel Grage, who previously ran for state House, closed the quarter with more than $180,000 raised and retained more than $95,000 cash on hand as of the filing.
Nearly $72,000 of her fundraising came in during the first three months of the year. The vast majority of the more than $47,000 in itemized donations came in from Duval and St. Johns Counties, a sign that she has grassroots support.
Other candidates are struggling to keep pace. Democrat Mark Heggestad has raised a little more than $25,000 during the campaign. Republican media personality Mark Kaye has raised nearly $22,000.
Rutherford is arguably the most proven commodity in the region with voters, having won seven general elections since his first campaign for Jacksonville Sheriff in 2023. So for any opponent to credibly challenge him, they will likely have to raise far more than anyone in the field has so far.
