On April 1, Florida held a special election to fill the vacant seats of former Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01) and Michael Waltz (R-FL-06), who both resigned to join the Trump administration. Republicans successfully retained control of the seats, with former state Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis winning in Florida’s 1st District and former State Sen. Randy Fine prevailing in Florida’s 6th District. Both candidates secured victory by approximately 14 points. However, Republicans faced some uncertainty, as the Democratic challengers significantly outraised their Republican opponents in these traditionally red districts. Despite this, strong backing from President Trump helped unite Republican support behind Fine and Patronis, bolstering Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) majority.
Florida’s 1st District
Jimmy Patronis, former state chief financial officer (CFO), won the special election to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Gaetz, who resigned late last year after he was selected as President Trump’s first nominee for attorney general. He later withdrew his name after it was clear he would not receive Senate approval. Patronis defeated Democratic candidate Gay Valimont by 14 points, securing 56.9% of the vote. In contrast, President Trump had won the district by nearly 40 points in November. Notably, Patronis lost Escambia County, which includes Pensacola, where he received only 48.1% of the vote—below Trump’s 19-point victory margin there in November.
Patronis had expressed concerns about the race, noting his anxiety over Valimont’s $6 million raised, which was $4 million more than Patronis. His win also sparked questions about his successor. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced that a replacement will not be named until May, despite Patronis raising concerns last week that Florida could face legal difficulties in paying its bills without a CFO. DeSantis offered assurance that an acting CFO will be appointed this month until a permanent successor is chosen.
Patronis’ family founded Captain Anderson’s Restaurant in Panama City Beach, Florida, heightening his understanding of the challenges facing Florida’s business community and the broader restaurant industry. Additionally, Patronis previously chaired the Greater Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Council and served on the Bay County Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. Well-versed in the state’s transportation and infrastructure issues, Patronis also played a pivotal role in the establishment of a new airport in Panama City. His experience and leadership across the state have set up Patronis to bring to Congress a solid understanding of the challenges affecting Floridians and Florida’s business community.
Florida’s 6th District
Former State Sen. Randy Fine won the special election to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep. Waltz, who resigned to join the Trump administration as national security advisor (NSA). Fine defeated Democratic candidate Josh Weil by 14 points, receiving 56.7% of the vote. In comparison, President Trump won the district by 30 points in November. Republicans were concerned about their ability to retain the seat late in the race, as polling numbers were closer than expected and Weil had a significant fundraising advantage. As of March 31, Weil had raised over $10 million, while Fine raised $2 million, with $600,000 of that coming from his own funds. Despite this challenge, Fine successfully secured the seat for Republicans.
Fine is a Harvard graduate and self-made businessman with a strong understanding of the issues impacting Florida’s 6th district, shaped by his experience in both the Florida House of Representatives and the state Senate. With a background as an executive in the casino and gambling industries, Fine is poised to be a strong subject matter expert for the gaming sector. During his time in the Florida House, he sponsored the largest school choice expansion in U.S. history.
Current State Rep. Debbie Mayfield also won the Republican primary for Fine’s former state Senate seat, while Brian Hodgers won the Republican primary to fill her current House District 32 seat. A special election for those seats will be held on June 10.
Brownstein’s Outlook
Speaker Johnson now has two additional votes to advance President Trump’s agenda, expanding the Republican majority 220-213, with two Democratic vacancies. Some Democrats are optimistic that Weil’s stronger-than-expected performance in the special election may signal that they are on track to reclaim the House in the 2026 midterms. Ongoing concerns about the stability of the Republican majority persist, particularly following President Trump’s withdrawal of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as his nominee to serve as the United Nations (UN) ambassador. Despite these challenges, Republicans have solidified their majority in the House, allowing them to lose three members and still pass legislation along party lines.
The election of Fine and Patronis to Congress will bring to Washington two representatives with strong Florida ties and a deep understanding of the state’s most pressing issues. It is expected that Fine and Patronis will largely align with President Trump’s agenda, while also championing the interests of the business community at large.
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