Rachel Grage

Rachel Grage was born in Oswego, New York. She earned both a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree from Tulane University. Grage has been affiliated with Catholic Charities, Equality Florida, and the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an engineer, health care professional, and mother of four running for Congress in Florida’s 5th District. I earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Tulane University and worked as a biomedical engineer focused on improving health outcomes. My family’s experience navigating health care, education, housing, and rising costs has shaped my perspective. I have spent years advocating on issues that affect Florida families and believe public service should be grounded in problem solving, accountability, and showing up for the people you represent.

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?

Affordability for families

I am running to address the rising costs that make everyday life harder for working families. This includes health care premiums, insurance instability, housing affordability, and out of pocket medical costs. My focus is on practical policies that reduce uncertainty and help families plan for the future. Government should ease financial pressure, not add to it.Accountability in government

I believe elected officials must be transparent, accessible, and answerable to the people they represent. Too often, decisions are made without meaningful oversight or explanation. I support strong constitutional checks and balances, clear standards for public accountability, and a Congress that listens to constituents and explains its actions openly.Protecting democracy and individual rights

I believe democracy works best when institutions are respected and individual rights are protected. That means upholding the rule of law, respecting due process, and ensuring government power is exercised responsibly. Public trust depends on leaders who take constitutional responsibilities seriously and prioritize human life, fairness, and public safety.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am especially passionate about health care affordability, including protecting Medicare and Social Security and reducing insurance costs. I also care deeply about housing affordability, disaster resilience, and environmental protection in Florida. In addition, I am committed to government accountability, constitutional oversight, and protecting individual rights and freedoms. These areas reflect both my professional background and the concerns I hear consistently from families across Florida’s 5th District.

Note: Grage submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on January 30, 2026.

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January 9 submission

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?

The rising cost of everyday living for working families

I am focused on reducing the day-to-day living expenses that families face, such as the cost of health care premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, the affordability of insurance, the availability of housing, and other elements that have a direct impact on the financial stability of American households. This is the place where I will be making a difference. I am committed to making it easier for families to plan, reduce uncertainty, and keep the services they need and want within reach. Our government should be loosening the squeeze, not tightening it.Government Accountability

Public servants are responsible for being accountable to the people they serve

Accountability is a basic tenet of public service. Elected leaders must be reachable, open about their actions and accountable for their votes. We need regular and meaningful engagement with the community, clear lines of oversight of government activities, and a Congress that is doing its job and acting within its constitutional authority. Representation should require that our elected officials listen, respond, and are accountable to the public they serve.Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Protecting Rights Mission Statement

I support reinforcing our democratic institutions by ensuring that our constitutional processes, checks and balances, and the rule of law are strong

We must protect individual rights, the separation of powers, and the limits of government as outlined in our Constitution. Additionally, democratic institutions should operate in a lawful manner, with transparency and oversight. A healthy and vibrant democracy relies on public trust and a well-functioning government, fair representation, and leaders that are respectful of civil liberties as well as the Constitution.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most interested in issues that impact people's day to day lives and long term financial stability.

I am passionate about health care costs and access, including defending Medicare and Social Security and preventing Americans from being priced out of basic care. I also prioritize housing and insurance affordability, which are huge problems in Florida where costs are increasing and climate change impacts are leaving families and seniors vulnerable and in real instability.

Moreover, I am dedicated to accountability in government and the protection of our democratic institutions. This includes being guided by the Constitution, transparency, and ensuring that elected officials are accessible and responsive to the people that they ser

Video for [the profile publisher]

Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased June 30 2024

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Oswego, New York, and introduced to politics early on through my mother’s work as an executive assistant to the city mayor. This experience showed me the power of public service. I went on to study biomedical engineering at Tulane University, where I earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees while also pursuing a minor in dance. My work focused on the biomechanics of the foot en pointe, and I later conducted research at LSU Medical School on dynamic ankle foot orthoses for children with cerebral palsy.

At Tulane, I met my spouse, whose military career took us to Hawaii and Kentucky. We were blessed with two children, and after returning to upstate New York, we welcomed twin girls. We spent two decades building a home in our community, where I served as president of our 3500-home community association. We later relocated to Florida, where I became active in local democratic clubs and served as a legislative liaison.

I’m running for District 16 because I'm tired of culture war politics and I think it's time we get back to real issues that matter to most people. I believe in diverse representation and the power of democracy. I’m also deeply involved in volunteer work with Catholic Charities and Equality Florida. I’m passionate about the arts, having performed in numerous plays and musicals in Jacksonville and previously serving on theater boards in New York.

My husband is a radiologist at Mayo Clinic. And family drives my dedication to public service.

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?

Skyrocketing insurance premium and housing costs are a key problem for my district.

We must:

- pass legislation for fair insurance practices, increase oversight, and encourage market competition

- invest in disaster resilience, support state assistance for low-income residents, and demand clearer rate information

- strengthen state reinsurance to stabilize the market and lower premiums

- enhance fraud prevention efforts to minimize fraudulent claims, which contribute to higher premiums

- encourage partnerships with federal programs like FEMA to increase resources for disaster recovery, lowering financial pressure on insurers.Provide more funding for education. Inadequate funding is leading to the closing of some of our beloved local public schools.

Florida ranks near the bottom nationally in terms of public education funding, and several steps can be taken to address this, including:

- increasing state budget allocation: Florida can raise its education budget by reallocating funds from other areas and increasing the percentage of state revenues dedicated to public schools.

- leveraging federal grants: Florida can actively pursue more federal education grants and programs to supplement state funding, especially for low-income or high-need schools.

- incentivizing public-private partnerships: Encourage partnerships between local businesses and public schools.Economic growth and the need for robust economic and job creation initiatives.

I support policies to stimulate economic growth and attract investment through tools like Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions. Prioritizing workforce development, apprenticeships, and job training will equip Floridians with skills for high-demand industries. I'll address income inequality and advocate for fair wages, benefits, and strong workplace protections.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about tackling the issues that impact our daily lives—starting with affordable housing and skyrocketing insurance costs, which are placing an immense burden on Florida families.

Public education is also a top priority for me. As a state, we rank near the bottom nationally in education funding, and our teachers and students deserve far better. I’m committed to increasing funding for our schools, raising teacher pay, and ensuring that every child in Florida has access to a world-class education.

Economic development that lifts everyone is key to building a prosperous future. We need to create opportunities for small businesses to thrive, while also fighting for equality and justice across all sectors of government.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

As an elected official, I believe the most important characteristics are integrity, accessibility, and accountability.

Integrity means staying true to your values and making decisions that genuinely serve the people, not special interests.

Accessibility ensures that I remain available to listen to my constituents, understand their concerns, and keep the lines of communication open.

Accountability means being transparent about my actions and decisions, taking responsibility for outcomes, and always striving to do what's right for District 16. Leadership should be rooted in service, honesty, and trust. And that's what I will bring to this seat, if I'm elected.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty, transparency, integrity and a strong desire for equality for all.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for someone elected to the Florida House of Representatives include representing the interests and values of the constituents, passing legislation that addresses community needs, and ensuring that government works for everyone.

This means advocating for policies that improve education, lower the cost of housing and insurance, protect healthcare access, and support small businesses. It’s also essential to be transparent and accessible, making sure constituents’ voices are heard and respected. Ultimately, the job is about serving the people and working to build a stronger, more equitable community.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

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Equality Florida

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Sierra Club

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Everytown for Gun Safety

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NOW (National Organization for Women)

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Florida AFL-CIO

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Democratic Women’s Club of Florida

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Duval Democratic Asian Pacific Caucus

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Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida

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Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida

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FL House Rep. Angie Nixon

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FL Senator Tracie Davis

What committees interest you?

Education & Employment, Health & Human Services, Hurricane Resiliency & Recovery, Commerce Committee.