Florida Special Elections Bolster Republican House Majority

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, both Republicans, secured victories in Florida’s special congressional elections on Tuesday. Their campaigns were boosted by endorsements from President Donald Trump, allowing them to maintain Republican control in these reliably conservative districts.

Patronis, currently the state’s chief financial officer, successfully defended his position against Democrat Gay Valimont, despite Valimont’s significant financial advantage in fundraising and spending. He will now represent the 1st District in northwest Florida, filling the vacancy left by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who had been nominated as Trump’s attorney general but withdrew amidst allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.

In the 6th District of northern Florida, Fine defeated Democratic challenger Josh Weil for the seat previously held by Mike Waltz, who became Trump’s national security advisor.

These wins increase the Republican advantage in the House of Representatives to 220-213.

Special elections often have low voter turnout, which can lead to unexpected outcomes. Although Republican wins were anticipated in both districts, known for their strong Republican lean, the Democratic candidates managed to significantly narrow the margins compared to the November elections.

These races served as an early indication of the political climate under Trump’s new administration. The reduced winning margins for Republicans could suggest a shift in public opinion, potentially fueled by heightened enthusiasm among Democrats nationwide, who invested millions in these races. The Democratic party aimed to capitalize on potential opposition to the President’s changes to federal agencies and the dismissal of federal employees, hoping to weaken Republican dominance at the polls.

Trump takes credit for the wins

President Trump celebrated the victories of both candidates on Tuesday night, attributing their success to his endorsement.

“THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!” he posted on his Truth Social account.

At a restaurant along the waterfront in Pensacola, Patronis received a flood of congratulatory messages as the initial results came in Tuesday night. Accompanied by his wife Katie and their two sons, Patronis greeted and shook hands with the crowd of approximately 100 supporters.

“This election serves as a reminder that the Florida Panhandle will always be a Republican stronghold and Trump country,” Patronis told his supporters. “Even their $6 million couldn’t overcome a single social media post from Donald Trump.”

Fine addressed around 100 supporters at the 2A Ranch Saloon in Ormond Beach, a building decorated with Trump memorabilia, including cardboard cutouts and a signed photograph of Melania Trump. A sign reading “Trump is still my president” was displayed above Fine from the balcony.

Following his speech, Fine minimized the significance of the reduced margin of victory, pointing out that it was still in the double digits and in a special election.

“I don’t think you can call that an underperformance,” Fine stated.

Weil acknowledged in a statement that the “race was closer than anyone ever imagined.”

“This result is also a warning sign to Donald Trump, Randy Fine, and the unelected oligarchs taking apart the government,” Weil added.

What do the results show?

Republicans in both districts are projected to win by smaller margins than their predecessors in every county. They are also expected to receive a smaller percentage of the vote than Trump did in the 2024 election in these congressional districts.

In the 6th Congressional District, Trump received about 65% of the vote in 2024, slightly less than the 67% that Waltz received in his last House reelection campaign. In Tuesday’s special election, Fine’s performance was roughly 10 percentage points lower than Waltz’s.

In Volusia County, Trump garnered 58% of the vote and Waltz secured approximately 60% in 2024, while Fine’s vote share was around 50% with almost all votes counted.

Fine, who describes himself as a “conservative firebrand,” faced increased pressure in the final days of the campaign as some Republicans publicly criticized his campaign and fundraising efforts, questioning whether the race’s outcome would embarrass Republicans so early in Trump’s administration. Weil’s campaign raised an impressive $9 million, significantly more than Fine’s $1 million.

National Democratic leaders attributed Weil’s fundraising success to widespread disapproval of Trump. However, this disapproval did not translate into enough votes to change the outcome, frustrating the Democratic Party’s hopes for a significant upset.

Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, stated that the results indicated “Democrats overperformed.” Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the victories demonstrated that “Americans are fired up to elect leaders who will fight for President Trump’s agenda and reject the Democrats’ failed policies.”

What did voters say?

Carol Vyhonsky, who traveled from her home in Brevard County with friends to attend Fine’s election party, expressed no concerns about Fine’s victory not being as strong as his predecessor’s last year.

“The polling looked a little iffy for a while, but he pulled through,” Vyhonsky said. “The important thing is that he won.”

Retired nurse Brenda Ray and her husband, Vietnam War veteran Mike Ray, voted for Patronis earlier in the day. Brenda Ray stated that while she didn’t know much about him, she supported him because she believed he would “vote with our president.”

“That’s all we’re looking for,” she said.

Who are Fine and Patronis?

Fine was first elected to the Florida House in 2016 and served as a representative until 2024, when he successfully won his election to the Florida Senate. He is known for his strong support of Israel and his efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights.

Patronis’s family founded the well-known Panama City restaurant Capt. Anderson’s, located on the Gulf of Mexico. He has been involved in Florida politics since his college days, interning in the Florida Senate before being elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2006. He was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott as the state’s CFO in 2017 and subsequently won elections to retain the Cabinet-level position in 2018 and 2022.

—Payne reported from Pensacola. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale.