Republicans win Florida special elections in Trump strongholds by narrower margins than in 2024

[Polybius]

Source: Associated Press

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine won special elections Tuesday in two Florida congressional districts, bolstered by President Donald Trump’s endorsement to fill vacant seats in reliably Republican strongholds.

Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, fended off a challenge from Democrat Gay Valimont even though she far outraised and outspent him. He will fill the northwest Florida 1st District seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was chosen to be Trump’s attorney general but withdrew from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.

In north Florida’s 6th District, Fine won against Democratic challenger Josh Weil for a seat vacated by Mike Waltz when he was tapped to become Trump’s national security adviser.

The win bolsters Republicans’ margin to 220-213 in the House of Representatives.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/florida-election-randy-fine-jimmy-patronis-7a11350a593a89551d6f7a88ccd22c0e

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Florida.

[intrepidity]

1. Disheartening that people see everything going on

and *still* vote for the repukes. :sigh:

[SunSeeker]

5. We're talking ruby red districts bordering Alabama. Yet we still cut GOP margins in half!

Trump won FL-01 by 37 points and FL-6 by 30 points last November. These guys both won by around a 15 point margin. In Gaetz's old FL-01 District Patronis won by 57% to 42.2%; In Waltz's FL-06 district Fine won by 56.7% to 42.7%. Both Dems cut the Republican win margin by half (15 percentage points!) compared to November.

I'm heartened tonight, especially by the solid Crawford and Underly statewide wins in pivotal Wisconsin.

[Polybius]

6. Yes

Democrats did better than twice as good compared to November.

[Marcuse]

2. Hey, they voted for Gaetz all those years.

[SheltieLover]

3. Flori duh...

[SunSeeker]

4. Both Dems cut the Republican win margin by half (15 percentage points!) compared to November.

Not bad.



Trump won FL-01 by 37 points and FL-6 by 30 points. These guys both won by around a 15 point margin. In Gaetz's old FL-01 District Patronis won by 57% to 42.2%; In Waltz's FL-06 district Fine won by 56.7% to 42.7%.