Delray Beach— The 2026 Republican primary midterm elections will be defined by who President Donald Trump supports, and in the contentious congressional race in Florida’s newly-drawn 22nd District, it appears that the contest will boil down to who is the Trumpiest Republican of the bunch, or who hasn't voted for or supported a Democrat in the past.
During a recent candidates’ forum hosted by the Federated Republican Ladies of Liberty, the candidates—Terri Hasdorff, Belinda Keiser, Rich Evans, Casey Askar, David Burck, Michael Thompson, and Michael Carbonara—were all asked if they have always been registered Republicans, and if they ever supported or donated to a Democrat.
One would think everyone would have said they have always been a staunch conservative Republican, but that was not the case.
Only three of the seven candidates have never voted for or supported a Democrat.
“I’m a lifelong Republican. I’ve never donated to a Democrat. Never supported a Democrat. Never voted or endorsed in any way, shape, or form,” said Hasdorff.
Hasdorff’s unequivocal pro-Republican response was echoed by business owner and U.S. Marine veteran Casey Askar, who also said he has always been a lifelong Republican and has “never voted for a Democrat” and “never donated to a Democrat.”
“As far as always being a Republican, yeah, I’ve been a Republican voter,” said Evans.
Again, all of the candidates are running as staunch Trump conservative Republicans.
David Burck, a U.S. Marine veteran who worked with the late Charlie Kirk at TPUSA, outlined his conservative bona fides but also divulged that he had voted for President Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
Burck dismissed his 2008 vote for Obama as a mistake made by an 18-year-old voter.
Michael Carbonara, who was a registered Independent until November 2024, also said that when he lived in upstate New York, he once voted for a Democrat running for a local office.
FIREWORKS
It was only a matter of time before this race would turn ugly, and we may have gotten a taste of it when conservative firebrand Michael Thompson responded to Belinda Keiser’s response to the questions.
“Not only was she a Democrat, but she also funded Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016. She donated towards Debbie Blabbermouth Schultz, Alcee Hastings,” said Thompson before being told by the host not to attack Keiser.
“I am not attacking anyone, I’m stating facts,” Thompson responded.
Thompson’s allegations about Keiser are accurate, kind of. Keiser was a registered Democrat who supported and donated to Democratic lawmakers like Hillary Clinton, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Al Gore.
Moments before Thompson’s remarks about her, Keiser stated that she was a “Blue Dog Democrat” years ago.
Keiser said that, like former Presidents Trump and Reagan, she “at one point” in her life was a Democrat.
“At one point in my life, many, many years ago, I was a Blue Dog Democrat. Blue Dog Democrats are fiscal conservatives, and they are unrecognizable. I don't know anybody who is a blue dog Democrat from something like 40-something years ago,” said Keiser.
According to the Broward Supervisor of Elections, Keiser was a registered Democrat until late 2007 when she changed her political party affiliation to Republican. This was 20 years ago
In addition, the claim that she “funded Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016” is not entirely true.
Keiser, who also once ran for elected office as a Democrat, did donate to Clinton in 2008, but not in 2016.
According to Peter Schorsch over at Florida Politics, Keiser donated to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who at the time was the DNC chairwoman.
The donation to the DNC could be perceived as a donation to Clinton, considering that the political party endorsed Clinton and spent millions of dollars trying to defeat then-candidate Donald Trump
Thompson, who said he was also a lifelong Republican, did endorse a Democratic candidate in 2022. Thompson said he endorsed a woman in a local race where “No Republican was in the race.
Florida’s primary election will be held on August 18th
Watch the exchange.
