From 2013 to 2017, the district includes Sarasota County and most of Manatee County. After court-ordered redistricting for the 2016 elections, the district was moved northwards to include southern Hillsborough County, while southern Sarasota County was moved into the
17th district.
The seat became vacant after Foley's sudden resignation on September 29, 2006, after it became public that
he had sent inappropriate emails to male teenage former congressional pages.[7] Foley's resignation occurred too late under Florida law to take his name off the ballot. Therefore, Foley's name remained on the ballot, but votes cast for him went to his replacement,
State RepresentativeJoe Negron, who would have been duly elected had Foley won the November 7, 2006 election.[8] Since Mahoney won the election, the question did not arise.[9]
2008
Florida's 16th Congressional District Election (2008)
Incumbent Tim Mahoney ran for reelection in
2008. His opponent was
Tom Rooney, a former
JAG officer, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and professor at the
United States Military Academy. Rooney is also the grandson of the founder of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. While Mahoney was initially favored, after the scandal involving his mistress, the race shifted toward "likely Republican" on the
Cook Political Report.
2010
Florida's 16th Congressional District Election (2010)