You are about to learn who Catalina Lauf is, why she keeps running for Congress in different states, and why her name is climbing search results just days before a major primary election. She’s one of several Republicans fighting for a wide-open congressional seat, and the vote is coming up fast.
Background: Who Is Catalina Lauf?
Catalina Lauf is an American political candidate and former Trump administration advisor who first became known as one of the youngest Republican congressional candidates in the country. She ran twice for Congress in Illinois before losing both races, then relocated to Florida and jumped into a new, high-profile campaign there.
Right now, people are searching her name because she doesn’t have a dedicated Wikipedia page despite years of national political attention, and because her current campaign is heading into its most important stretch yet. A crowded Republican primary in Florida is about to decide whether she moves on to the general election.
Latest Update
Catalina Lauf is running in the Republican primary for Florida’s 19th Congressional District, scheduled for August 18, 2026, just ten days from now. She’s competing against a crowded field that includes former North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn, businessman Jim Oberweis, broadcasting executive Jim Schwartzel, and several other candidates, all vying to replace outgoing Representative Byron Donalds.
💬 Why this matters: This is Lauf’s third run for Congress, after two unsuccessful bids in Illinois. A win in the primary would put her on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2026, in a district that leans strongly Republican.
Campaign finance filings from July 2026 show a political action committee called Protect Freedom PAC spent more than $37,000 in independent expenditures supporting her campaign. No personal scandal, controversy, or other breaking news about Lauf herself has been confirmed as of this date; the search interest is tied directly to the upcoming primary vote.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Catalina Frances Lauf was born on May 5, 1993, in Woodstock, Illinois. Her father is a small-business owner, and her mother emigrated from Guatemala, which Lauf has described as central to her political identity as the daughter of a legal immigrant. She was homeschooled growing up and went on to graduate college two years earlier than typical.
Career Path
Lauf earned an associate degree from McHenry County College before completing a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, and political science at Miami University in Ohio. She worked for the ridesharing company Uber before being appointed as a special advisor to the U.S. Department of Commerce under President Trump in 2018, a role she held for about eight months. She later co-founded Begin Health, a children’s health company, with her sister, and founded the Defense of Freedom PAC. Her political career includes an unsuccessful run for Illinois’s 14th Congressional District in 2020 and a loss as the Republican nominee for Illinois’s 11th Congressional District in 2022. She relocated to Bonita Springs, Florida, afterward and announced her campaign for Florida’s 19th District in October 2025.
Age
Catalina Lauf is 33 years old, based on her confirmed birth date of May 5, 1993. A small number of lower-quality sites list her birthday as May 11 instead, but the more reliable sources agree on May 5.
Religion
Lauf’s campaign materials frequently reference “faith” as one of her core values, but her specific religious affiliation or denomination has not been publicly confirmed.
Spouse/Partner
Catalina Lauf is married. Her campaign describes her husband as a former United Kingdom Special Forces combat veteran who served alongside American forces during the Global War on Terror. His name has not been made public in campaign materials or news coverage.
Net Worth
No verified net worth figure for Catalina Lauf has been published. Given her background as a co-founder of a private health company and a former government advisor, any specific dollar estimate circulating online should be treated as unconfirmed.
Parents
Her father is described as a small-business owner, and her mother emigrated from Guatemala. Neither parent’s name has been made publicly available in campaign or news materials.
Height
A small number of lower-quality biography sites list Catalina Lauf’s height as approximately 5 feet 6 inches, but this figure has not been confirmed through a verifiable source.
Education
She earned an associate degree from McHenry County College and a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, and political science from Miami University in Ohio, completing her studies two years ahead of a typical timeline.
Hometown/State of Origin
Catalina Lauf was born and raised in Woodstock, Illinois, and now lives in Bonita Springs, Florida, with her husband.
Official Social Media
Her verified account, where she posts campaign updates, is @CatalinaLauf on X.
✅ Quick fact check: The career and election details above are confirmed through Ballotpedia, official campaign materials, and local election news coverage. Where something like her husband’s name or exact net worth isn’t public record, we said so instead of guessing.
Campaign Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Born in Woodstock, Illinois, on May 5 |
| 2018–2019 | Serves as special advisor to the U.S. Department of Commerce under President Trump |
| 2020 | Runs unsuccessfully for Illinois’s 14th Congressional District |
| 2022 | Becomes Republican nominee for Illinois’s 11th Congressional District; loses general election |
| 2023–2024 | Relocates to Bonita Springs, Florida |
| October 2025 | Announces campaign for Florida’s 19th Congressional District |
| July 2026 | Protect Freedom PAC reports over $37,000 in independent expenditures supporting her campaign |
| August 18, 2026 | Republican primary election for Florida’s 19th District |
| November 3, 2026 | General election for Florida’s 19th Congressional District |
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Does Catalina Lauf have a Wikipedia page?
No, as of this writing, Catalina Lauf does not have a dedicated Wikipedia page. She is mentioned within Wikipedia’s page on the 2026 Florida congressional elections, but does not have a standalone biography entry there.
What is Catalina Lauf running for in 2026?
She’s running in the Republican primary for Florida’s 19th Congressional District, scheduled for August 18, 2026. The seat is currently held by Byron Donalds, who is not seeking reelection to it.
How old is Catalina Lauf?
Catalina Lauf is 33 years old. She was born on May 5, 1993, in Woodstock, Illinois.
Has Catalina Lauf run for office before?
Yes, this is her third congressional campaign. She previously ran unsuccessfully for Illinois’s 14th Congressional District in 2020 and lost the general election as the Republican nominee for Illinois’s 11th Congressional District in 2022.
Is Catalina Lauf married?
Yes, she is married to a former United Kingdom Special Forces combat veteran who served with American forces during the Global War on Terror. His name has not been publicly disclosed.
Who else is running against Catalina Lauf in the Florida primary?
Her primary opponents include former North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn, businessman Jim Oberweis, broadcasting executive Jim Schwartzel, and several other Republican candidates competing for the same open seat.
⚠️ A note on accuracy: Details like Catalina Lauf’s husband’s name, exact height, and net worth are not confirmed in public records. Where sources disagree or information is simply missing, this page says so instead of filling in a guess.
Wrap-Up
Catalina Lauf’s political career has been defined by persistence more than easy wins. Two losses in Illinois would end most people’s congressional ambitions, but she picked up and tried again in a completely different state, betting that a fresh district and a crowded, high-profile primary would work in her favor.
Whether that bet pays off gets decided in just over a week, when Florida Republicans vote in a primary packed with recognizable names, including a former congressman attempting a political comeback of his own. That competitive field is a big part of why her campaign, and by extension her biography, is getting more attention right now than it has in years.
For anyone tracking the race closely, the most reliable way to follow developments is through her official campaign channels and established election-tracking sites like Ballotpedia, since the field remains large and details are still shifting as the primary date approaches.
Smith Andrew is the Founder and Editor of BiographyCabal. He researches, writes, and edits accurate, engaging, and well-researched biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes, influencers, politicians, and other notable public figures. Committed to factual reporting and quality storytelling, Smith ensures every article is reader-focused, informative, and based on reliable sources, helping readers discover the lives, careers, and achievements of influential people around the world.