Jimmy Patronis, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, secured the Republican nomination in Florida's 1st Congressional District, setting the stage for a likely victory in the April general election.
Trump-endorsed candidate Jimmy Patronis has won the Republican primary in a special election to replace former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida's 1st Congress ional District. Patronis, the Florida Chief Financial Officer, secured the GOP nomination, projected by The Associated Press, in the district situated in the Panhandle region of northwest Florida. He will face Gay Valimont, a gun safety advocate who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the April 1st general election.
Patronis, also endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, emerged victorious from a field of ten Republican candidates. He is widely considered the favorite in the heavily Republican district. 'A fourth generation Floridian from the beautiful Panhandle, and owner of an iconic seafood restaurant, Jimmy has been a wonderful friend to me, and to MAGA,' Trump stated in a social media post earlier this month. Gaetz's abrupt resignation from Congress late last year, following Trump's nomination of him as Attorney General, fueled the special election. Gaetz later withdrew himself from consideration amidst rising Republican opposition. This resignation coincided with the House Ethics Committee's preparations to release a report on allegations against Gaetz, including illicit drug use and sexual relations with a minor, which he vehemently denies. Among those defeated by Patronis in the GOP primary was a former Navy veteran who challenged Gaetz in the previous year with the support of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Patronis, whose family operates a renowned restaurant in Panama City, located outside the district, faced criticism for not residing within its boundaries. He previously achieved victory in two statewide elections as Chief Financial Officer and was considered a potential candidate in Florida's 2026 gubernatorial race, aiming to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis, before Gaetz's resignation. Republican and Democratic primaries were also held Tuesday in Florida's 6th Congressional District for the special election to fill the vacancy left by GOP Rep. Michael Waltz, who stepped down to serve as national security advisor in the second Trump administration. The general election in the Republican-leaning district is scheduled for April 1st. With a precarious, narrow majority in the House, the anticipated reinforcements from Florida's 1st and 6th congressional districts will be welcomed news to Republican leadership as they strive to pass Trump's legislative agenda
FLORIDA ELECTIONS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY JIMMY PATRONIS MATT GAETZ DONALD TRUMP CONGRESS SPECIAL ELECTION
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