Schwartzel wins Congress seat over Arias

Nov 3, 2026 By NATHAN MAYBERG 1 min read

Jim Schwartzel, a South Fort Myers media executive and Republican, won election to the 19th Congressional District seat on Tuesday. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

South Fort Myers Republican media executive Jim Schwartzel earned more than 60% of the votes Tuesday to win election to the 19th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds. The district covers most of Lee County and Collier County.

Schwartzel, a Republican political newcomer, defeated Cape Coral attorney Victor Arias.

Schwartzel earned 138,668 votes in Lee County compared to 87,704 for Arias. In Collier County, Schwartzel won by a higher percentage margin with 57,073 votes compared to 32,628 for Arias.

Schwartzel took over Sun Broadcasting from his father in 2011. He has since expanded the company from radio to television and news print. As head of Sun Broadcasting, he owns several radio stations, including 92.5 Fox News, Trump Country 93.7, and 96 K-Rock radio stations. Schwartzel’s television stations include WFTX-TV – FOX, WXCW-TV – CW (which includes WINK News), WUVF-TV – Univision, and WLZE – UniMas. He purchased Gulfshore Life Media in 2018 and started the Naples Press.

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