Sydney Gruters

Sydney Gruters was in a staff meeting when her phone began filling with messages about Donald Trump's surprise endorsement, she recalled while still considering a congressional run.¹ A mother of three, she is married to Republican National Committee chairman Joe Gruters.² Her own government career began before the couple met.¹

A University of Florida political science graduate, Gruters first worked for Congresswoman Katherine Harris and joined Vern Buchanan's staff in 2006.¹ She spent more than a decade working in Washington and Manatee County, including service as a legislative aide.²¹

In 2017, Trump appointed her USDA Rural Development state director for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.² She managed eighty staff members across six offices in that role, according to her account.¹ She later became district director for Congressman Greg Steube, overseeing constituent services.¹ Before running, she served as vice president of advancement and executive director of the New College Foundation.³

Gruters's platform emphasizes lower taxes, reduced regulation, border enforcement and cooperation with Trump's administration.² She also supports curbing overdevelopment, improving housing affordability and protecting retirement and veterans' benefits.² She is making her first bid for office in the open 16th District race against Democrat Kelly Kirschner and independent Mark Davis.³