U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has survived life in the majority and minority.
The Tampa Democrat today remains the only member of her party representing Florida’s Gulf Coast. She has led powerful Committees dictating federal environmental policy, and she remains a key dissenting voice as a GOP majority sets policy in Congress and state government.
But regardless of whether the rest of her party is up or down in Washington, she remains a powerful advocate for the entire Tampa Bay region, fighting for appropriations and the concerns of all income levels for citizens who call this area home.
“Kathy Castor continues to be a steady hand for her constituents and the Tampa Bay community in the U.S. Congress,” said Dewayne Mallory, Director of Local & Community Affairs for RSA Consulting Group.
“She continues to bring community investments home in areas where they matter most, such as infrastructure/transportation and affordable housing. Her strong local constituent services team helps families, veterans, seniors, and small businesses every day cut through the red tape and chaos and put money back in their pockets.”
For that reason, Castor sits at a loft No. 7 on Florida Politics’ list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians this year. Indeed, she remains, despite her party’s minority status in the House, the highest-ranked federal official on the list for a second year in a row.
Party leaders hold the Tampa lawmaker in high esteem, an important fact especially as state lawmakers consider redistricting her into a battleground seat. But should a Democrat-friendly environment in the Midterms keep her in office regardless, it’s likely she will bring that much more clout as a member of the majority caucus.
“Congresswoman Kathy Castor is the kind of leader every community deserves, and Tampa Bay is lucky to call her our own,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.
“As a senior member of Congress, she knows how to make Washington work and deliver real results for Tampa Bay and all of Florida. She’s deeply respected because people know she never stops fighting for her community and always gets the job done.”
Should Democrats retake a majority, Castor may once again find herself as Chair of a House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. That’s a panel created when Democrat Nancy Pelosi served as Speaker but that was dissolved after Republicans reclaimed a majority in the House. But from that perch, Castor played a role in significant environmental policies signed by President Joe Biden during his term in power.
Even without a Committee gavel in her hand, Castor has remained a vigilant watchdog for the environment, loudly blasting Environmental Protection Agency policies that ease oversight of polluters. And working across the aisle with Florida Republicans, Castor has helped keep up one of the most important bipartisan efforts to stop any oil drilling in the Gulf.
She also boasts a substantial list of community projects for which she secured funding. In 2024, Castor secured $10.1 million in aid, benefits and refunds to veterans, seniors, small businesses and families, as well as over $1.5 billion in federal grants in the Tampa area to create jobs and invest in local schools and infrastructure. She pulled in $13.1 million for veterans in 2023.
Now she’s fighting for Congress to make a large investment this year to modernize MacDill Air Force Base facilities and improve the housing situation for local soldiers and civilians working there. For her spot on the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this month, she urged colleagues to help modernize the headquarters of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), improve on-base military housing availability, and update pay designations for the civilian workforce.
Thanks to that nonpartisan work, local Democrats see Castor as a figure respected across the political spectrum, which will be valuable in November no matter the shape of her seat.
“I do like Kathy Castor. As the Tampa Bay area becomes more ‘purple’ resulting from gentrification and transplants, she has forged a moderate position in that she helps veterans as well as support affordable housing,” said Tampa-based multimedia producer Rodrick Colbert.
She also has shown both an ability to work with other lawmakers on matters like online safety for children, and also to play hardball when partners won’t address all of her concerns on legislation. That happened this year when she started working with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis on the Kids Online Safety Act but broke with the Palm Harbor Republican over loopholes that allowed Big Tech to dodge accountability in her eyes.
She’s also not afraid to talk tough with members of her own party, and called for U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation or expulsion days before the Miramar Democrat called it quits before a sanctioning vote by the House Ethics Committee. Now, she’s doing the same and asking U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, a New Smyrna Beach Republican, to step aside or face the music.
___
As for methodology, the Tampa Bay region is defined as Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, with Hernando, Polk and Sarasota included when their elected officials impact Pinellas or Hillsborough.
A politician is defined as someone currently in office or actively running for office.
Panelists ranked their Top 25, with a first-place vote earning 25 points, second place earning 24, and so on down to 1 point for 25th. Those totals were combined to produce the final list.
We also want to thank our experienced and knowledgeable panelists, who were essential to developing the 2026 list: Vinik Family Office Chief of Staff Christina Barker; Mercury Public Affairs Managing Director Ashley Bauman; Michael Corcoran and Matt Blair of Corcoran Partners; former Sen. Jeff Brandes; Stephanie Cardozo of The Southern Group; Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick managing partner Ron Christaldi; political consultant/strategist Barry Edwards; Vicidial Group President Matt Florell; Sunrise Consulting Group President Shawn Foster; businessman Michael Griffin; St. Pete Catalyst Publisher Joe Hamilton; Clay Hollis of Tucker/Hall; Natalie King of RSA Consulting Group; Moffitt Cancer Center VP of Public Affairs and Communications Merritt Martin; political consultant Chris Mitchell; Mike Moore of The Southern Group; RSA President and CEO Ron Pierce; Tucker/Hall CEO Darren Richards; political consultant Jim Rimes; political consultant Preston Rudie of Catalyst Communications Group; TECO Vice President of State and Regional Affairs Stephanie Smith; lobbyist Alan Suskey of Shumaker Advisors; and Michelle and Peter Schorsch, publishers of Florida Politics.