Florida 14th District Voter Guide: Castor, Beltran and Lambert on Health Care and Immigration
Three candidates are printed on the Nov. 3 ballot in Florida's 14th Congressional District, according to the Florida Division of Elections candidate listing: Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Republican Mike Beltran and Libertarian Brian Lambert. Two qualified write-in candidates, Salomon Hernandez Sr. and Keith Varian, are also listed. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where the three ballot candidates stand on health care and immigration.
The Tampa-area district was redrawn under Florida's new 2026 congressional map. "This district now favors Republicans — Trump won it by 11 points in 2024 and three points in 2020 — but is still quite winnable for Castor," the Cook Political Report wrote.
Why Health Care and Immigration Are Issues in Florida's 14th District
The Cook Political Report rates the race a Toss Up in its Oct. 23, 2026 ratings. Inside Elections rates it a Toss-up, as of Sept. 17, and Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it a Toss-up, as of Aug. 26, according to Wikipedia's ratings table. No public general-election poll of the race was found.
On health care, the TDFP video says Castor "backs extending enhanced ACA tax credits for three years and protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions." It says Beltran "wants fewer barriers to new clinics, wider telehealth access, and lower healthcare costs," and that Lambert "backs patient choice, price transparency, and competition with fewer federal mandates."
On immigration, the video says Castor "backs paths to citizenship and border security plus body cameras, warrants, and accountability for agents." It says Beltran "backs finishing the border wall, deporting criminals and fraudsters, and Trump's immigration agenda," and that Lambert "backs stronger borders and ports, effective enforcement and legal immigration" and "opposes rewarding illegal entry."
Kathy Castor (Democrat, Incumbent)
Castor, a former Hillsborough County commissioner, has served in Congress since 2007, according to her campaign.
On health care, Castor voted in January for the House bill to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced tax credits for three years, which passed with the votes of 17 Republicans. "The ACA has been a godsend for hardworking Americans since it was signed into law fifteen years ago in ending discrimination for preexisting conditions," she said in a statement. "People deserve affordable, consistent access to the care they need."
On immigration, Castor said in a statement: "America needs real pathways to citizenship for people willing to work hard, pay taxes and play by the rules, and strong laws that keep our border secure from violent criminals and dangerous drugs." She called for making "body cameras mandatory," requiring "Judicial warrants according to due process and constitutional guarantees" and "complete, independent investigations conducted to hold agents accountable who break the law or violate our rights."
Mike Beltran (Republican)
Beltran, a Harvard Law School graduate and business lawyer, served six years in the Florida House and did not seek reelection in 2024, according to the Florida Phoenix.
On health care, Beltran's campaign website says he "broke up healthcare bureaucracies that blocked new clinics from opening and expanded telehealth access so affordable, high-quality care is available to everyone, especially working families and seniors. He'll bring that same fight to Congress."
On immigration, his website says: "Mike stands 100% with President Trump on immigration. We need to finish the wall, deport the criminals and fraudsters, and restore law and order at our southern border."
Brian Lambert (Libertarian)
Lambert is a retired 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, according to the Libertarian Party.
On health care, Lambert's campaign website says: "I support expanding patient choice through free-market competition, greater price transparency, and fewer unnecessary federal mandates. Patients deserve to know what medical services cost before receiving treatment."
On immigration, his website says he supports "securing all of America's borders and ports of entry through effective enforcement, modern technology, properly staffed personnel, and physical barriers where they are practical and effective." He adds: "I support legal immigration" and "I oppose policies that reward illegal immigration or encourage people to bypass our legal immigration system."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Kathy Castor: @KathyCastorFL on X and castorforcongress.com. Mike Beltran: beltranforcongress.com. Brian Lambert: @LambertFor14 on X and brianlambertforcongress.com.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Florida voters can check their registration and polling place at registration.elections.myflorida.com. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Florida Division of Elections, 2026 General Election candidate listing: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/candidates/CanList.asp?elecid=20261103-GEN ; Rep. Castor, ACA tax credit vote (Jan. 8, 2026): https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405117 ; Rep. Castor, immigration enforcement statement: https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405123 ; Castor for Congress, about: https://castorforcongress.com/about/ ; Beltran for Congress, platform: https://beltranforcongress.com/platform/ ; Brian Lambert for Congress, health care: https://www.brianlambertforcongress.com/issues/healthcare ; Brian Lambert for Congress, border security: https://www.brianlambertforcongress.com/issues/border-security ; Libertarian Party, Brian Lambert: https://lp.org/candidate/brian-lambert/ ; Florida Phoenix voter guide: https://floridaphoenix.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-general-u-s-house-of-representatives-cd-14/ ; Cook Political Report, FL-14 race page: https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/482581 ; Cook Political Report House ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings ; Wikipedia, 2026 U.S. House elections in Florida: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Florida
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