Who is Kelly Kirschner?

Kirschner is a former Sarasota mayor running for federal office for the first time. His platform is the most detailed of any challenger in these races, and he is one of only three federal candidates on the Tampa Bay ballot with a published data-center position.

Who's Funding This Campaign

Federal Election Commission filings for the 2026 cycle, through July 29, 2026. That is the most recent full report the FEC requires — anything raised since is not public yet. The October Quarterly report covers through September 30, 2026 and is due October 15, 2026.

Raised

$296,507

Spent

$215,769

Cash on hand

$80,738

Money the donor list doesn't show

$35,358 from small-dollar donors. Contributions under a $200 running total are not itemized, so federal law does not require their names to be disclosed at all.

Source: Federal Election Commission. Figures cover the 2026 cycle only and are rounded to whole dollars. Principal committee: Kelly Kirschner for Congress.

Positions on Key Issues

Sourced from campaign websites and public statements. These are the candidate's own claims as published, not independently verified by Activate Pinellas unless marked.

Housing

Expand affordable housing and stop Wall Street from buying up single-family homes and gouging renters.

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Environment

Protect Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and our coastline by prohibiting offshore drilling, stopping open-water fish farming, and enforcing the Clean Water Act. Hold phosphate companies accountable and strengthen clean air protections, so toxic waste and dirty air don’t become the taxpayers’ cleanup bill.

Keep AI hyperscale data centers out of District 16 until they prove they won’t drain our aquifers, raise utility costs, contaminate our air, or override local control. Fix stormwater systems and stop rewarding the kind of overdevelopment that causes flooding and polluted runoff Make sure disaster and insurance dollars reach every community based on need, not zip code or political influence.

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Insurance

Affordable home and flood insurance — and an end to the price-gouging and “business-as-usual” corruption that lets insurers lobby for immunity while your premiums skyrocket.

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Economy

End price gouging by oil, electric utility, and grocery giants. Hold insurance companies accountable.

When oil companies post record profits while we’re struggling to pay for gas, that’s not the market — it’s a rigged game.

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End price gouging by oil, electric utility, and grocery giants.

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Veterans

We owe our veterans a VA that answers the phone, a crisis line that works at 3 a.m., and a government that doesn’t make them fight a second war just to get their benefits. Fully staff VA clinics. Restore the Veterans Crisis Line to full 24/7 operation.

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Frequently Asked

Who is Kelly Kirschner?: Kelly Kirschner is a 2026 Democrat candidate for U.S. House District 16, 16. Kelly Kirschner has stated positions on 6 key issues.
What office is Kelly Kirschner running for?: Kelly Kirschner is running for U.S. House District 16, 16. Filed: April 30, 2026.
How can I learn more about Kelly Kirschner's positions?: Kelly Kirschner's stated positions cover: Housing, Environment, Insurance, Economy, Veterans. See full positions below.

Before you vote

Read what they say, check who funds them, then find your ballot.

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