TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Two special elections in Florida have been scheduled to fill the seats of members of Congress nominated for the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump. For the seats of departing Republican Representatives, twenty-one candidates have submitted their applications. Trump has already expressed his preferences for Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz as his replacements.
A political chain reaction is being triggered by Trump’s reliance on Florida lawmakers to form his new Cabinet, which is creating fresh opportunities for the state in 2026 and beyond. Other vacancies and election opportunities have resulted from the filing of other incumbent elected officials, including Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, to run for the congressional seats.
Gaetz, who represents a district in northwest Florida that is famed for its sugar-sand beaches and military installations, and Waltz, who represents a region of the state south of Jacksonville that includes Daytona Beach, were both handily reelected to their seats in November.
As Governor Ron DeSanti’s second term comes to an end, the special elections to replace them are unlikely to alter the Republicans’ small majority in the House, but they may lead to another shift among the state’s political candidates considering a 2026 run for governor.
Republican sources claim that Patronis is among those who are thinking about running for governor, and a time in Congress may help him gain more recognition. Even in an area where Trump is extremely popular, the 15 other candidates who qualified to run in Congressional area 1 were not deterred by Trump’s recent declaration of support for Patronis in the contest to succeed Gaetz.
FILE – Then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump smiles at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Image: Evan Vucci/Associated Press
Trump wrote, “Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” on his social media platform Truth Social. JIMMY, RUN, RUN!
Republican State Representative Joel Rudman, a doctor who began his political career by opposing mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, is one of the other contenders in the election. Gay Valimont, an activist for the gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action, is the only Democrat in the race. She defeated Gaetz in November.
Trump endorsed Republican State Rep. Randy Fine in the campaign for the Waltz seat in Congressional District 6. Fine is a self-described conservative firebrand who was under investigation for allegedly posting a school board member’s phone number online, which resulted in a barrage of threats and harassment directed at her. There were no charges brought against him.
Three Democrats and an independent candidate are among the eight other contenders who have entered the campaign for the seat. Last month, anti-abortion activist Randall Terry was the presidential candidate of the Constitution Party.
Gaetz was appointed as Trump’s attorney general before resigning due to ongoing controversy surrounding a federal investigation into sex trafficking. Gaetz has strongly refuted the claims. Gaetz had already resigned from his position in northwest Florida, officially ending a House Ethics Committee probe into his alleged drug use and sexual misconduct, but he was no longer being considered.
In the face of mounting concerns regarding former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s personal behavior and Senate confirmation prospects, the president-elect considered potential replacements and named Waltz as his national security advisor. However, the three-term congressman and retired Army National Guard officer has also been floated as a nominee for defense secretary.
Voters in the military and abroad will start receiving ballots for both extraordinary elections on December 14. The general election is set for April 1st, while the primary is set for January 28th.
___ Kate Payne is a member of the Statehouse News Initiative’s Report for America/Associated Press corps.A nonprofit national service initiative called Report for America places reporters in local newsrooms to explore topics that aren’t often covered.
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