Who's on First?

Many of us remember the classic Abbott and Costello comedy routine: "Who's on First? What's on Second?" Or perhaps you've attended a Major League Baseball game and heard the familiar cry from a vendor: "Get your scorecards! You can't tell the players without a scorecard!"

Today, many residents of Southwest Florida—particularly those on Marco Island—could use a scorecard of their own.

After speaking with numerous friends, neighbors, and fellow voters, I've discovered that many people aren't even sure which congressional district now represents Marco Island. Even more confusing, many have little idea who is actually running to represent us in Washington.

Until the state's congressional districts were redrawn, Marco Island was part of Congressional District 19, a coastal district stretching north to Cape Coral. Byron Donalds represented that district in Congress.

Today, Marco Island is part of an entirely different congressional district. Yet if you watch political advertisements on local television, you'll primarily see candidates campaigning in District 19—a district that no longer includes Marco Island. It's no wonder voters are asking, "Who do we vote for?"

With early voting approaching, many residents are only now realizing that our representation has changed dramatically.

Our new congressional district stretches across portions of Southwest and South Florida, encompassing communities with very different interests and priorities. As a result, Marco Island represents only a small portion of the district's overall electorate.

That reality raises an important question for local voters: How can we ensure that Marco Island's voice is heard in Washington when our community is only one piece of a much larger district?

Adding to the challenge, congressional candidates are only required to live within the state they represent—not necessarily within the district itself. Combined with the shortened campaign season created by the redistricting process, many candidates have had limited time to introduce themselves to voters throughout the district.

To date, only two congressional candidates—Terri Hasdorff and Belinda Keiser—have made campaign visits to Marco Island. Hopefully, more candidates will recognize the importance of speaking directly with the residents of our island before Election Day.

This year's election is a midterm election. Historically, voter turnout across the country is lower during midterm years because there is no presidential race at the top of the ballot.

Marco Island, however, has long distinguished itself by strong voter participation. Our residents take seriously both the privilege and the responsibility of voting. That civic engagement has always been one of our community's strengths.

In an election where turnout may determine the outcome, every vote carries even greater significance. The winners of primary elections are not always decided by overwhelming majorities. In fact, Byron Donalds captured the Republican primary in 2020 with approximately 23 percent of the vote in a crowded field.

The lesson is simple: informed voters who participate can have a significant impact.

Before casting your ballot, take the time to learn which congressional district you now live in, who is running to represent you, and where the candidates stand on the issues that matter most to our community.

After all, you can't tell the players without a scorecard.