Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > FL Congressional Candidate & National Security Expert Joe Kaufman ‘Chose Faith Over Politics' When Declining GOP Debate On Shabbat
FL Congressional Candidate & National Security Expert Joe Kaufman ‘Chose Faith Over Politics' When Declining GOP Debate On Shabbat
‘Terrorist Hunter' Joe Kaufman Has Been Fighting To Keep Americans & The West Safe & Protecting The American Dream
July 1, 2026
WHO IS JOE KAUFMAN?
"Joe Kaufman, the "Terrorist Hunter," is a nationally recognized counter-terrorism expert, public speaker, Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and Republican candidate for United States Congress in South Florida. With decades of experience identifying and exposing terrorist-linked networks, Kaufman has built a reputation as a fearless defender of American values, national security, and the U.S.–Israel alliance.
Kaufman has worked closely with military and law enforcement agencies to uncover and combat terrorist threats both at home and abroad."
" I am passionate about national security, education, economic opportunity, and protecting the American Dream. As a counter-terrorism expert who has spent decades exposing terrorist networks, I believe government's first responsibility is to keep Americans safe through secure borders, strong law enforcement, and a strong national defense. I am also a strong advocate for School Choice and expanded vocational education so every student can pursue the path that best fits their goals. Finally, I am passionate about policies that lower costs, strengthen small businesses, expand homeownership opportunities, protect seniors, and help hardworking families achieve greater economic security and upward mobility."
"Trump Admin Border Czar Tom Homan: "With his national security background, Joe brings experience and expertise that will make him an asset in Congress. His focus on counter-terrorism and border security makes him a strong partner in advancing America First priorities and protecting national safety."
Heartbeat bill author Janet Folger Porter: "I trust Joe Kaufman to protect our most vulnerable children in the womb and keep hearts beating. Joe, I endorse you... We need you to win."
BALLOTPEDIA
Joe Kaufman
Candidate, U.S. House Florida District 25
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Next election
August 18, 2026
Education
High school
Roosevelt High School
Bachelor's
The University of Maryland, College Park, 1993
Bachelor's
University of Maryland
Bachelor's
University of Maryland, College Park, 1993
Personal
Birthplace
Detroit, MI
Religion
Jewish
Profession
Writer
Contact
Joe Kaufman (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 25th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on August 18, 2026.[source]
Kaufman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
https://ballotpedia.org/Joe_Kaufman
Joe Kaufman Declines Saturday Debate to Honor the Jewish Sabbath
NEWS PROVIDED BY
June 18, 2026, 10:00 GMT
Joe Kaufman for Congress logo
Joe Kaufman speaking at fundraiser discussing Iranian threat
Rabbis & Joe
Kaufman Chooses Faith Over Politics
Americans should never have to choose between serving their country and serving God. Religious liberty is a foundational American value that must be protected."
— Joe Kaufman
BOCA RATON, FL, UNITED STATES, June 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Republican congressional candidate Joe Kaufman announced on Wednesdaythat he will not participate in the Republican Party of Florida's upcoming CD25 "Showdown" debate because it is scheduled during Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.
Kaufman had respectfully requested that the debate be moved to another day of the week or to Saturday evening after Shabbat so that observant Jewish voters and candidates could participate. The Republican Party of Florida respondedthat its schedule had already been finalized and that it was unable to make a change.
Kaufman expressed gratitude for the invitation and appreciation for the party's response.
"I appreciate the Republican Party of Florida's invitation and understand that schedules are often difficult to change," Kaufman said.
Kaufman, an observant Jew, emphasized that his decision is not political, but religious.
"I would have welcomed the opportunity to participate in the debate and share my vision for Florida's 25th Congressional District," Kaufman said. "However, my faith teaches me that there are certain commitments that must come before politics. Every Saturday, I am in synagogue with my wife and daughter honoring the Sabbath, and I will not compromise that commitment."
Kaufman said his decision reflects a broader American principle: the freedom of every citizen to practice his or her faith without being forced to choose between religious conviction and public life.
"One of the greatest strengths of our nation is that Americans should never have to choose between serving their country and serving God," Kaufman said. "Religious liberty is not merely a constitutional right; it is a foundational American value that must be protected."
Kaufman noted that history has celebrated individuals who remained true to their beliefs despite personal or professional consequences. One of the most famous examples came in 1965, when Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax declined to pitch Game One of the World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day. Though criticized by some at the time, Koufax's decision has since become an enduring symbol of faith, integrity, and conviction.
"Like millions of Jewish Americans, I grew up admiring Sandy Koufax's courage," Kaufman said. "His decision demonstrated that faith is not something to be practiced only when convenient. While my situation is far less significant, the principle is the same: Our beliefs should guide our lives, not the other way around."
Florida's 25th Congressional District is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States, including many families who attend synagogue and faithfully observe Shabbat each week.
Kaufman said he remains eager to engage voters and would gladly participate in a debate held on any other day of the week. He concluded by wishing the organizers a successful event.
"I appreciate the invitation and wish for a successful event," he said. "My hope is that this moment serves as a reminder that America is strongest when people of every faith are free to live according to their convictions."
Joe Kaufman is a nationally recognized counter-terrorism expert, Chairman and CEO of Kaufman Security, and Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Florida's 25th Congressional District. In 2024, Kaufman was the Republican nominee against incumbent Democrat Jared Moskowitz, receiving 48% of the vote in what was the closest race in Florida and the strongest performance by a Republican candidate in the district's history.
Shawn Malachovsky
Joe Kaufman for Congress
+1 561-916-2016
[email protected]
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Wu-Tang Clan Affiliate Remedy Endorses Joe Kaufman for U.S. Congress
About
My Story
Meet Joe Kaufman: A Proven Fighter for National Security and Freedom
Joe Kaufman, Republican Nominee for U.S. Congress (Florida District 23), has spent his life dedicated to protecting America and its allies from threats both foreign and domestic. With a deep background in counter-terrorism, Joe has been instrumental in shutting down terrorist-linked charities and bringing individuals tied to terrorism to justice.
As a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center and Chairman of the Joe Kaufman Security Initiative, he has assisted key agencies like Homeland Security, the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the Secret Service to combat those who seek to harm the nation. Joe's leadership extends to recent victories in preventing extremist events from taking place.
In January, he successfully led efforts to shut down a pro-Hamas conference that was to be held in Coral Springs, Florida. The following month, Joe forced Congresswoman Summer Lee, a member of 'The Squad,' to cancel her address at the Hamas-linked CAIR annual conference in Philadelphia. Joe has also provided critical intelligence to the state of Florida, leading to action against a radical imam, who called for an annihilation of Jews, and the imam's taxpayer-funded private school in Miami.
Joe's fight against terrorism goes beyond America's borders. For well over a decade, Joe has had involvement with the opposition to the Ayatollah regime in Iran. His commitment to this cause has earned him endorsements from major figures in the movement, including John Qmars Naimi, President of the global opposition group Cyrus Force, and Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran. Prince Pahlavi praised Joe for his dedication to freeing the Iranian people, expressing optimism that with Joe in Congress, "the dream of a free and democratic Iran" can become a reality.
Joe's passion for freedom also extends to Venezuela, where he and his wife, Emily, have extended family. In May 2014, Joe and Emily participated in the 'Trip for Freedom' to Washington, D.C., along with 1,000 Venezuelan Americans. Joe spoke to attendees outside the Organization of American States (OAS), calling for the imprisonment of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Joe's campaign has been endorsed by Ernesto Ackerman, President of Independent Venezuelan American Citizens (IVAC), a prominent South Florida Venezuelan advocacy group. Previously, Joe was endorsed by former Ambassador to OAS Roger Noriega and has written for Noriega's publication, InterAmerican Security Watch.
Joe has as well been involved with the Gabriel Policy Institute, an advocacy group for Jamaica comprised of current and former Jamaican law enforcement and security officials. Joe was instrumental in helping to craft a manual, parts of which were implemented by the Jamaican government, to reduce corruption and crime in Jamaica and the greater Caribbean.
Joe's campaign has been endorsed by David Brown, the founder of the Gabriel Policy Institute. Born in Detroit and raised in Yonkers, New York, Joe was introduced to politics by his late grandmother Ruth, who took him door-to-door campaigning for Ronald Reagan at just 10 years old. He later attended the University of Maryland, where a shocking act of anti-Semitism by his freshman roommate, who placed a swastika on their dorm room wall, galvanized Joe's lifelong commitment to defending the Jewish people.
After graduating, Joe moved to Florida to care for his grandmother, who suffered from COPD, a severe breathing condition that kept her in and out of the hospital and rehab. Today, Joe is married to Emily, a Spanish and Hebrew teacher originally from Peru, and together they are raising their 11-year-old daughter Ruth, named after Joe's beloved grandmother.
https://www.localcandidates.org/politicians/joe-kaufman/about/49f13d1b-012e-4c0f-aad7-9d3b490bddf6
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