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Catalina Lauf

RepublicanFirst-time candidate

Catalina Lauf is a Republican candidate for U.S. House Florida District 19 in the 2026 election. This is their first run for office.

From the candidate’s public filings

Background

Catalina Lauf served as an advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce after President Trump appointed her in 2018. Prior to her appointment, she worked for the ridesharing company Uber. Lauf earned her bachelor's degree from the Miami University of Ohio and her associate degree from McHenry County College.[1]

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Associates:
McHenry County College
Bachelor's:
Miami University of Ohio

Campaign money

Raised
$1.7M
From individuals
$726K
From PACs & party
$18K
Own money
—

FEC filings through July 29, 2026.

View on FEC.gov(opens in new tab)

Campaign themes

Catalina Lauf did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteLauf's campaign website stated the following:Catalina Lauf is a proud former member of President Trump’s Administration and is running for Congress in Florida’s 19th District to fight for the America First agenda. She is committed to protecting Southwest Florida’s coastlines, strengthening our local economy, supporting small businesses and families, and keeping our communities safe.As the daughter of a legal immigrant mother and a small-business owner father, Catalina knows firsthand the promise of the American Dream. She went on to co-found a successful multi-million-dollar children’s health company with her sister, proving her commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and empowering families.Catalina and her husband chose to make Florida their home because of its shared values of faith, freedom, and opportunity. Now rooted in Bonita Springs, she is dedicated to raising her family here and fighting for the future of this community.​​She is running to bring a new generation of servant leadership to Congress — leaders in the spirit of Congressman Byron Donalds who stand up fearlessly for our values. Unlike career politicians and recycled candidates, Catalina’s campaign is built on service, not self-interest.Florida’s 19th District deserves a strong, principled leader who will put the people first and defend the America First agenda every single day. Catalina Lauf is ready to deliver that leadership.— Catalina Lauf's campaign website (June 23, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Catalina was born and raised in Woodstock, IL a small town in the heartland of Illinois. Geographically, the 11th district of IL resembles the heartbeat of America in its culture, it's values and it's commitment to the American Dream. Catalina represents a new generation of leadership that is fighting to preserve that Dream for generations to come.

-Born and raised in Woodstock, Illinois

-Second Generation Latin American

-Homeschooled and graduated college two years early

-One of the youngest Presidential appointees at U.S. Dept. of Commerce

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Pro-Growth Economy; Supporting Small Business and Encouraging InnovationEnforcing Law and Order and Supporting Law EnforcementProtect Our Individual Liberties

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Growing up in a household of entrepreneurs and having worked in the private sector, I fundamentally understand the pillars that keeps our American economy moving: small-business owners and the American worker. We must foster a pro-growth economic environment where businesses and workers of all levels can thrive with minimal government intrusion, which means: lower taxes, de-regulation, and encouraging innovation in all industries. We must incentivize businesses to stay in Illinois and the U.S., to ensure America remains competitive globally.

Campaign website

Lauf's campaign website stated the following:

Pro-Growth Economy, Supporting Small Business, and Encouraging Innovation

Growing up in a household of entrepreneurs and having worked in the private sector, I fundamentally understand the pillars that keeps our American economy moving: small-business owners and the American worker. We must foster a pro-growth economic environment where businesses and workers of all levels can thrive which means: lower taxes, de-regulation, and encouraging innovation in all industries. We must incentivize businesses to stay in Illinois and the U.S., to ensure America remains competitive globally.

One of the youngest Presidential political appointees to the U.S. Department of Commerce

Worked in the Private Sector

Advisor at Begin Health, a gut-microbiome startup

Enforcing Law and Order and Securing Our Border

To keep our communities safe and secure, we must enforce law and order at all levels, whether at our border or within our cities. A Country without borders, is no Country at all. As the daughter of an immigrant from Central America, my family and I know the value of a safe and secure border and the need for legal immigration. Furthermore, we must be tough on crime and support our men and women in Blue so we don’t end up like (Cook County!) I will be outspoken on ALL of these issues; it’s time for your Representatives to have a backbone!

We support our men and women in law enforcement and in the U.S. Armed Services

Daughter of a legal immigrant from Central America

Protect Our Individual Liberties

Our Founders made it perfectly clear the Rights of the People were given by God, not man, and could not to be taken away by a Government. Now more than ever we are witnessing the erosion of those rights. Whether it be the censorship of free speech, governments at all levels trying to take away the 2nd Amendment rights of its lawful citizens, or unconstitutional mandates and lockdowns — our individual liberties are under attack. As your Representative in Washington, I will fight every day for YOU and YOUR RIGHTS.

The role of your Representative is to Protect Your Rights!

We must be tough against the attack on Free Speech, 2A, and all individual liberties

Defend Parent and Kids’ Rights

What happened to teachers, teaching? My mother was a teacher for 30 years, and what is happening today is not teaching. It is indoctrination. These last few years have shown Illinois parents that their children’s rights are under attack by Democrat elites in power at every level from the teacher’s unions to school boards. We don’t have enough leaders on the National level fighting against forced mandates, Critical Race Theory and other issues seen in our schools today. As a homeschooled kid myself, I support School Choice and will fight alongside our moms and dads of the 11th District against the Marxism taught in our public schools!

I will fight alongside with you, moms and dads in protecting your kids!

Get Critical Race Theory out of our kids’ curriculum

Bad teaching has no place in our schools and those in power must be held accountable

A Pro-Life Conservative

Along with the majority of Americans, I believe in and support protecting the rights of children at all stages of life. I will continue as a vocal opponent of the Left’s radical position in support of late-term abortion, partial-birth abortion, and infanticide.

I will support pregnancy resource centers that work to present alternatives to abortion

Tax-payer funds should never be used to fund organizations that provide abortion services[2]

—Catalina Lauf's campaign website (2022)[3]

Catalina Lauf did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Lauf's campaign website stated the following:

Protecting Individual Liberties

Whether it is the Green New Deal or Medicare-For-ALL, our freedoms are under attack by the Far-Left and their constant push for bigger government. Our Rights are not debatable, chief among them our 2nd Amendment. As a strong Constitutional Conservative, Catalina firmly supports our individual liberties, will be a champion for freedom and a fierce defender of our Constitutional Rights.

Immigration Reform

As the daughter of a woman who came to the United States legally from Guatemala, Catalina is a strong supporter of legal immigration. Unfortunately, immigration reform has become far too politicized and real, workable solutions have not been addressed by leaders in Congress. Catalina believes that having a safe and secure border is essential to our nation’s security and will help President Trump finish building the wall, secure our ports of entry, and will support legislation that encourages legal immigration.

Jobs / Economy

As the daughter of a small-business owner and as a former presidential political appointee to the Trump Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Catalina has witnessed first hand the positive results of President Trump’s America First Agenda in regards to Jobs and the Economy. She firmly supports President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Job Act, continued deregulation and tax cuts for small businesses, and will encourage policies that promote a free-enterprise, free-market system.

[2]

—Catalina Lauf's campaign website (2020)[4]

On the 2026 ballot

Links

Compiled from the candidate’s published profile as of September 30, 2026 and FEC filings.

Source(opens in new tab)