Former Jacksonville radio host-turned-conservative podcaster Mark Kaye announced plans to challenge Republican incumbent Congressman John Rutherford for Florida's 5th Congressional District in next year's Republican primary.

In a release shared June 12, Kaye said he is seeking to oust Rutherford in the GOP primary slated for Aug. 18, 2026.

On June 9, Kaye posted a meme-filled video to YouTube announcing his candidacy for Congress. In the video, he took aim at Democrats and Republicans, saying representatives from both parties aren't operating with the public's interest in mind.

"Nobody in Congress is actually working for you, and that's disrespectful because you hired them; they work for you," Kaye said in the video posted to X.

Kaye said he prioritizes free speech rights and small business, and pledged to support conservative voices he says have been silenced online. He said he also plans to push back against "Big Tech" censorship.

Kaye said Rutherford, who has held a Florida U.S. congressional seat since 2017, lacks transparency with his constituents.

"We need somebody who can infiltrate the halls of Congress, directly deliver on our demands and report back with true transparency, every single day," Kaye said.

Rutherford was elected to represent Florida's 4th Congressional District in 2016. The district was later redrawn in 2023 to include parts of Duval County and St. Johns County and was renamed the 5th Congressional District. He previously served as Jacksonville's sheriff for more than a decade.

Kaye claims Rutherford supports Democratic-backed legislation and isn't actively present for his constituents.

"The only thing this guy fights for is the last cup of Jell-O at the Congressional cafeteria," Kaye argued. "Plus, he's one of the least transparent congressmen in the entire world."

In February, Rutherford was the center of protests after a group of residents claimed they were unable to deliver letters detailing their concerns directly to the congressman.

"In 10 years of service, this guy hasn't held a single town hall meeting," Kaye mentioned.

Kaye is known locally for his time hosting a morning show on 95.1 WAPE's air before transitioning to host the Mark Kaye Show on 104.5 WOKV.

Kaye was ensnared in online controversy after he claimed he was fired from Cox Media Group , the parent company of WOKV Radio, following allegations that he created and shared an AI-generated photo of President Donald Trump with Black voters.

Now, Kaye hosts his own daily conservative podcast, "Mark Kaye Saves the Republic," and "The 47 Daily." He's garnered more than 70,000 subscribers on YouTube.

This story was first published by First Coast News .