Trump-Backed Candidates Dominate Florida Special House Primaries
Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis Secure GOP Nominations to Fill Vacant Congressional Seats
Two Trump-endorsed Republicans cruised to victory in Florida’s special House primaries on Tuesday, positioning themselves to claim two vacant seats in solidly Republican districts and bolster the GOP’s slim majority in Congress.
The Associated Press projected state Sen. Randy Fine as the winner in Florida’s 6th Congressional District just after polls closed at 7 p.m. ET. Fine secured more than 80% of the GOP primary vote, making his victory a landslide.
In Florida’s 1st District, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis led a crowded Republican field with over two-thirds of the vote. The AP called the race shortly after 8 p.m. ET, confirming his dominant performance.
Both Fine and Patronis had the backing of former President Donald Trump and key House Republican leaders as they campaigned to replace former Reps. Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz.
Resignations and Political Shifts
The vacancies emerged after Waltz stepped down earlier this month to become Trump’s national security adviser, while Gaetz resigned last year following Trump’s initial nomination of him for attorney general. However, Gaetz later withdrew from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use.
A subsequent House Ethics Committee report found "substantial evidence" suggesting Gaetz violated House rules regarding prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, and obstruction of Congress. Gaetz has denied all allegations.
Path to the General Election
Fine and Patronis are expected to be overwhelming favorites in the special general elections, as both districts heavily favored Republicans in the last election cycle.
Despite their strong position, House Republicans are closely watching the April 1 general elections. Adding two more GOP members would provide much-needed stability in a narrowly divided House, where Republicans currently hold a 218-215 advantage. With such a slim margin, the party can afford only two defections on any given vote if all members are present.
As the special elections approach, Fine and Patronis are expected to focus on reinforcing their party’s agenda while Democrats face an uphill battle in deep-red territory.