Rep. John Rutherford wins GOP primary in FL-5 race
Published Aug. 18, 2026, 8:16 p.m. ET | Updated Aug. 18, 2026
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — U.S. Rep. John Rutherford won the Republican primary Tuesday in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, defeating conservative talk show host Mark Kaye to secure the GOP nomination for another term in Congress.Rutherford, a former Duval County sheriff who has represented Northeast Florida in Congress since 2017, entered the primary with the endorsement of President Donald Trump and campaigned on his record in Congress and decades of law enforcement experience.A longtime Jacksonville resident, Rutherford spent 40 years in law enforcement before entering Congress. He served as Duval County sheriff and graduated from the FBI National Academy after earning a degree in criminology from Florida State University.
Kaye, a conservative talk show host and podcaster, challenged Rutherford from the right, campaigning as an “America First” alternative to the incumbent. Kaye highlighted his nearly two decades in conserv…