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John H. Rutherford

U.S. House · FL-5 · Republicans · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · FL-5

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Biography

Overview

John H. Rutherford is a Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 5th congressional district, serving since 2017. A former Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officer for 41 years and elected sheriff from 2003 to 2015, Rutherford represents southeast Jacksonville and St. Johns County. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1952 and has degrees in criminology from Florida State University.

Career

As a congressman, Rutherford sponsored the 2018 STOP School Violence Act, which the House approved 407-10 and authorized $50 million annually for training and violence prevention programs in schools. He introduced bipartisan legislation to protect Florida's coasts from offshore drilling. During his tenure as Jacksonville Sheriff, he was credited with improving the department's mental health response capabilities and overseeing a prisoner reentry program. However, an Office of Congressional Ethics investigation found he had 157 late stock transaction disclosure reports between 2017 and 2021, violating the STOCK Act, resulting in fines.

Prior political experience

Rutherford was first elected to Congress in 2016, winning the Republican primary for Florida's 4th Congressional District with 38.7% of the vote, then defeating Democratic nominee David Bruderly 70.2% to 27.6% in the general election. He was reelected in 2018 (65.2% to 32.4%), 2020 (61.1% to 38.9%), and 2022 (unopposed in the general election). As Jacksonville Sheriff, he was elected in 2003 with 78% of the vote and reelected in 2007 and 2011.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress+0.434

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
+0.066
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 291 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
2ndU.S. House FL-52025–presentIn progressJohn H. Rutherford—
1stU.S. House FL-52023–2025Term ended—John H. Rutherford
3rdU.S. House FL-42021–2023Term endedJohn H. RutherfordAaron Bean
2ndU.S. House FL-42019–2021Term endedJohn H. RutherfordJohn H. Rutherford
1stU.S. House FL-42017–2019Term ended—John H. Rutherford

Committee assignments

  • Homeland Security
    House· 2025–present
  • Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
    House· 2025–present
  • Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
    House· 2025–present
  • House Committee on Appropriations
    House· 2025–present

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term7

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
——Pending——