VoterBloc
Photograph of Vern Buchanan

Vern Buchanan

U.S. House · FL-16 · Republicans · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · FL-16

Target Vern

Biography

Overview

Vern Buchanan is a Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 16th congressional district, serving since 2013 (originally elected to the 13th district in 2007). A Florida-based businessman with substantial automotive and business interests, Buchanan previously chaired both the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. He is an Air Force National Guard veteran and announced in January 2026 that he would not seek re-election.

Career

Buchanan's key legislative achievements include co-authoring the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018 (enacted as part of the 2018 Farm Bill) and co-sponsoring the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act of 2019, which became law. He has secured substantial federal funding for his district, including $2 million for Anna Maria Island cleanup and $4 million for Wares Creek, and helped establish Sarasota National Cemetery. He played a major role in passing free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea in 2011. He has received the Humane Society of the United States Legislator of the Year award twice (2015, 2020). However, his record also includes controversial moments: the House Ethics Committee investigation into campaign finance misconduct (closed in 2016 with insufficient evidence findings), and significant business litigation related to his American Speedy Printing franchise and automotive ventures.

Prior political experience

Buchanan first won election to Congress in 2006, winning Florida's 13th district in a narrow race against Democrat Christine Jennings by 369 votes after a recount. Jennings challenged the results in court and the election was ultimately affirmed by the House. He defeated Jennings again in 2008 with 55%. He won reelection in 2010 with 68.9%, 2012 with 53.6% (his narrowest margin since 2006), 2014 with 61.5%, 2016 with 59.8%, 2018 with 54.6%, 2020 with 55.5%, and 2022 with 62% in his new 16th district. In 2024, he defeated primary challenger Eddie Speir by 20 points with 60% of the vote, receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. He announced in January 2026 that he would not run for re-election.

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+0.361

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
-0.080
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 320 scored votes

Campaigns targeting Vern Buchanan

No active campaigns target Vern Buchanan right now.

Start a campaign targeting Vern Buchanan

Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
7thU.S. House FL-162025–presentIn progressVern Buchanan—
6thU.S. House FL-162023–2025Term endedVern BuchananVern Buchanan
5thU.S. House FL-162021–2023Term endedVern BuchananVern Buchanan
4thU.S. House FL-162019–2021Term endedVern BuchananVern Buchanan
3rdU.S. House FL-162017–2019Term endedVern BuchananVern Buchanan
2ndU.S. House FL-162015–2017Term endedVern BuchananVern Buchanan
1stU.S. House FL-162013–2015Term ended—Vern Buchanan
3rdU.S. House FL-132011–2013Term endedVern BuchananAnna Paulina Luna
2ndU.S. House FL-132009–2011Term endedVern BuchananVern Buchanan
1stU.S. House FL-132007–2009Term ended—Vern Buchanan

Committee assignments

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
——Pending——