Media mogul Jim Schwartzel files to succeed Byron Donalds in Congress

Sun Broadcasting President Jim Schwartzel opened a federal account this week to run for U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds’ House seat.

Schwartzel, a Fort Myers Republican, filed paperwork to run by launching the committee Jim Schwartzel for Congress.

A day after filing, Schwartzel on social media aligned himself with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda and praised a decision by the state to bring charges against Ryan Routh, a man arrested on charges of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in Florida.

“After (former President Joe) Biden’s corrupt DOJ failed to act, Florida is stepping up to deliver real justice,” Schwartzel posted.

“The attempted assassination of POTUS wasn’t just an attack on one man — it was an attack on every freedom-loving American. Florida stands with President Trump. We stand for law and order. Political violence has NO place in our country. Big thanks to Attorney General James Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis for showing real leadership and getting the job done.”

Schwartzel’s entry into the congressional field Wednesday makes him the third Republican to file for the open seat. Jim Oberweis, a former Illinois state Senator and previous congressional candidate, filed on March 5. Johnny Fratto, who previously challenged U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart in a 2024 Republican Primary, filed in Florida’s 19th Congressional District on March 25.

Democrat Howard Sapp filed for the seat In February, but the district leans heavily Republican.

All candidates are running to succeed Donalds, who first won election in 2020 but who has filed to run for Governor next year instead of seeking re-election.

Sun Broadcasting runs several Southwest Florida radio and television networks, most notably conservative talk radio network 92.5 FOX News. The company also owns the controversial Trump Country 93.7 radio station, a country music station that also promotes Trump’s brand. The local Univision affiliate is also owned by Sun Broadcasting.

While an outspoken conservative, the First Amendment Foundation in 2023 honored Schwartzel last year for a public stance taken against Republican-championed defamation legislation. After criticism from Schwartzel and other conservative pundits criticized the bill, it died in both chambers of the Legislature.

Schwartzel is one of several prominent Republicans who have been rumored as potential contenders to run for Donalds’ seat. He notably is the first, and so far only, Republican from Lee County to file for the seat. Donalds and his predecessor, former U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, both live in Naples in Collier County, though Lee contains a majority of voters in the district.