Ralph Groves for Congress, 2026
A New Libertarian Candidate -
Socially Liberal, Economically Conservative.
Vote for RALPH GROVES, the Libertarian Party candidate in Florida’s 11th Congressional District
I'm Ralph Groves, former Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Orange County.
As a Libertarian, I'm not a Democrat, not a Republican, not Left, not Right. Instead, I'm a pragmatic Constitutionalist. As a husband to an invalid wife and a father to a special-needs daughter, I am very dedicated to both Medicare and Social Security. In addition, I'm pro-natalist, pro-human rights, and pro-2nd Amendment. Further, as an Army veteran and Iraq War veteran, I'm very dedicated to issues pertaining to Florida's military personnel (including National Guard), and I favor National Guard troops to be kept at home. My campaign will give the voters of the 11th Congressional District of Florida a third choice besides the Democrats and Republicans.
A few specifics:
First: Medicare fraud. I will work with Vice President JD Vance, who was appointed by President Trump, to tackle the fraud problem.
Second: Uphold the War Powers Act. I will work with Congress to ensure that Presidents commit U.S. military forces overseas only for defense of the United States, and only for up to 60 days unless Congress authorizes an extended period of time.
Third: Promote a culture that respects life. As a pragmatic Libertarian, not an ideologue, I am neither "pro-choice" or "pro-life" in a doctrinaire way. I believe generally that life should be promoted. Abortions should be available, especially for medical purpose and performed in hospitals, not in outside clinics.
Ralph Groves’ Main Positions
Ralph Groves’ Experiences
Goal: Libertarian Party of Florida candidacy for congressional office
Work Experience: Retired since 2018; active in civic matters, especially the Libertarian Party of Florida; authorship of books under the auspices of Groves & Associates Research.
1999 – 2018: Department of Defense, civilian analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Security clearance: Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information
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1999 – 2015, Royal Air Force Base, Molesworth, England – Analyst of social, economic, and political matters of Francophone West African countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal – including the insurgency in Casamance. Served as a member of a team that advised President Obama on Senegal prior to his visit to that country in 2013. Wrote Report for United States Congress on Cote d'Ivoire's internal political stability, 2014. As collateral duty, he served as an adjunct faculty member of the Regional Joint Intelligence Training Facility.
Awarded The Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award, 2015
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2015 – 2018, DIA Headquarters, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington DC, including a one-year assignment at the Pentagon – Analyst of social, economic, and political matters of Iran. Main accomplishments: Contributed to several Presidential Daily Briefings for President Trump on Iran’s internal matters, especially on the 2017 – 2018 protests against the Islamist regime; Lead analyst of relations between Iran and Armenia.
Military Experience: Active duty military service in the USA and Germany prior to civilian service as an analyst for the Department of Defense. During active duty, served with Military Intelligence Group-Europe, Heidelberg, Germany. During DoD civilian service, retained affiliation with the U.S. Army via the Army Reserve. Served as a Detachment Commander in the 209th Army Liaison Team, Wiesbaden, Germany. Mobilized with the 209th for active duty in Iraq War, 2008-2009. Served in Baghdad on staff of General Petraeus. Retired from U.S. Army at rank of Major, 2010.
Awarded Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 2009
Publications
Book: Soviet Raison d’état and Relations with Iran’s Communist Parties, 1920-1979
Book: Iran’s Shi’ite Clerics’ Opposition to the Shah, 1959-1979
Article: “A Clash of Systems: An Analytical Framework to Demystify the Radical Islamist Threat”, Parameters, Journal of the U.S. Army War College (Reprinted as Chapter 8 in book, U.S. Marines and Irregular Warfare, 1898 – 2007)
Novel set in Cote d’Ivoire: The Romance of the Lantana and Edelweiss Flowers
Article: "Ethnicity and Political Crisis in Cote d'Ivoire", South African Journal of International Affairs, 2006
Article: "Variants in Khayyamic Poetry", Indo-Iranica (Calcutta, India, 1993), Reprinted in Islamic Culture (Hyderabad, India, 1995)
Article: "The Cold War in Afghanistan", Afghanistan Forum (New York, 1993)
Family
Ralph Groves resides in Ocoee; married to a disabled wife; They have 5 children, 3 grandchildren, and help to support a godchild. One son serves as a Special Missions Aviator in the U.S. Air Force. The Groves Family makes monthly donations to the St. Jude Children's Hospital and the American Red Cross.
