Florida special elections gay valimont
Gay Valimont has flipped Florida's Escambia county, which strongly backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
Valimont, a Democrat, lost the special election for Florida's 1st Congressional District on Tuesday night to the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate, Jimmy Patronis.
But in Escambia, Valimont leads Patronis by 3 points, with more than 95 percent of votes counted. At the 2024 presidential election, Trump won Escambia by 19 points on a higher voter turnout.
Why It Matters
Despite both Democratic candidates losing their special elections in Florida on Tuesday, the party has suggested that getting better on November 2024 results in the strong GOP-friendly areas would suggest they are on track to retake control of the House in the 2026 midterms.
What To Know
Patronis, Florida's chief financial officer, beaten Valimont in the state's 1st District special election by 59 percent to 42.
The seat was previously held by Matt Gaetz, the former Florida model who left office after originally being tapped as Trump's pick for attorney general. Gaetz defeated Valimont by 30 points in November 2024, and Trump won the district in last year's presidential election wi
Republican Jimmy Patronis wins Florida's 1st congressional district race, defeating Democrat Gay Valimont
ORLANDO, Fla. - Republican Jimmy Patronis won a distinct election Tuesday in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, securing a seat in the reliably Republican Panhandle with the backing of former President Donald Trump.
What we know:
Republican Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s chief financial officer, overcome Democrat Gay Valimont despite being significantly outspent. The seat became vacant after former Rep. Matt Gaetz, initially selected as Trump’s attorney general, withdrew from consideration amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
In Florida’s 6th Congressional District, Republican state Sen. Randy Fine also secured victory against Democrat Josh Weil, though by a much smaller margin than expected. The district, historically a Republican stronghold, saw an unusually competitive race fueled by heavy Democratic spending and voter enthusiasm.
What we don't know:
While Patronis and Fine both emerged victorious, questions remain about whether the narrowing margins in these races point out a broader political change. It is unclear
Democrats
April 1, 2025
Following tonight’s election results in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, where Democratic Gay Valimont had the best show from a Democrat in Florida’s 1st Congressional District this century, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“Congratulations to Gay Valimont on running a strong campaign that will make a difference for Florida’s 1st Congressional District for years to come. Her large overperformance in a Trump +37 district is the finest performance for Democrats in the district this century and spells trouble for Republicans everywhere. Valimont made critical inroads in this deeply red district and showed Republicans that, even in a place Trump won by nearly 40 points, this seat would not be handed to them. I thank Same-sex attracted Valimont for her leadership and for once again stepping up to race in a tough district. Make no mistake: The momentum is on our side. Democrats possess overperformed in 15 out of 16 special elections this year. Democrats are going to retain winning races and – ultimately – take back the House next year.”
Democrat Gay Valimont is the latest Democrat to overperform in a special election in 2025. Ea
Florida Republicans hang onto Matt Gaetz's old House seat in special election
WASHINGTON - Florida Republican Jimmy Patronis beat Democrat Gay Valimont in Tuesday’s special election to fill a former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz's House of Representatives seat, a critical win for President Donald Trump and the GOP given their narrow majorities on Capitol Hill. The race was called by the New York Times and CNN just an hour after both outlets called former Republican Rep. Mike Waltz's seat, also in Florida, for Republican Randy Fine.
Gaetz had resigned from Congress in November last year after President Donald Trump had nominated him to assist as attorney general, prompting Patronis to launch a bid for his seat. Gaetz represented Florida's red leaning first congressional district, which encompasses the western-most part of Florida’s panhandle, including Pensacola and Destin.
Though Patronis was favored to win the race, there were reportedly some concerns among GOP officials due to Valimont’s high fundraising figures. She had raised nearly $6.5 million through March 12, according to data from the Federal Election Commission, while Patronis has raised a small over $2.1 million.
But
Republicans win in both House special elections in Florida
Republican candidates are projected to win both exceptional elections for U.S. House seats in Florida, though by smaller margins than expected in two GOP-dominated districts.
State Sen. Randy Fine is projected by The Associated Press to win in Florida’s 6th Congressional District while the AP projects Jimmy Patronis will win in the 1st District.
The races to pack vacancies left by former Republican Reps. Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz heated up in recent weeks.
Both lawmakers resigned to join the Trump administration, although Gaetz withdrew his nomination as attorney general when it became clear that he did not have sufficient assist in the Senate to be confirmed.
Ahead of the election, Republicans had 218 seats in the House -- a slim majority. The GOP would contain onto its majority no matter what the results of the Florida elections, but if they lost a seat, that will build legislating more complicated, especially on measures where every Republican doesn't vote with the party.
While Republicans will hold on to their majority regardless of the results in Florida, the election comes amid concerns over maintaining tha