Gop Eyes his majority house in competitive special elections in Florida to replace Waltz, Gaetz
A couple of special elections in Florida for the United States House of Representatives on Tuesday to fill the vacancies left by former Republican representatives. Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz have heated in recent weeks, especially in the sixth district where Waltz served.
Both legislators renounced to join the Trump administration, although Gaetz withdrew their nomination as a general prosecutor when it was clear that he did not have enough support in the Senate to confirm.
Before the elections, the Republicans have 218 seats in the camera, a thin majority. The Republican party will cling to mostly regardless of the results of Florida’s elections, but if they lose a seat, that will make legislation difficult, especially in the measures where each Republican does not vote with the party.
While Republicans will cling to the most part regardless of the results in Florida, the elections occur amid concerns about the maintenance of that power, a concern that spilled the public when President Donald Trump recently asked the representative Elise Stefanik to retire from his nomination as ambassador of the United States to the United Nations instead of renouncing his seat.
One of Florida’s races is at stake more than expected, with uncertainty among some Republicans about whether his candidate in the 6th district, state senator Randy Fine, can keep the seat safely in republican hands, since he has stayed far behind the Democratic, Master and progressive candidate Josh Weil, in fundraising.
Therefore, while Republicans are favored to win in each district, since both were red rubies in 2024, some have speculated that the margin between Republicans and Democrats in at least the 6th district could be stricter than expected.
Representative Randy Fine closes on a game bill during a special session, May 19, 2021, in Tallahassee, Florida. The nominated Democrat Josh Weil speaks during a campaign stop at the Silver Springs Shores Community Center, March 26, 2025, in Ocala, Fla.
Steve Cannon/AP | Joe Raedle/Getty images
The special elections generally have a greater participation than the elections and the participation in the cycle and the results can be difficult to predict.
In the Fund’s Collection Front, according to presentations of the Federal Elections Commission, fine has raised or received Around $ 987,000 from the end of November 2024 to mid -March, while Weil has raised or received More than $ 9 million since October 1, 2024 in mid -March. Good also donated $ 600,000 for yourself, according to Subsequent presentations.
The representative Randy Fine answers a question about his 3-C of the Chamber: Independent Special Districts in the House of Representatives on April 20, 2022, in the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.
Phil Sears/AP
Weil’s campaign has spent more than $ 8 million on what he has raised, according to the presentations; Fine’s campaign had also spent much of his cash available before his donations for himself.
But it has Trump’s strong support.
Trump said Thursday: “He will be there when he needs it, and wants to be there when we need it. He wants to be there for you.”
The fine has expressed confidence. He told ABC News Live presenter, Diane Macedo, on Monday: “We are very good” and then added: “What we are seeing are angry Democrats and Republicans who have to understand what is at stake.”
Weil, who was backed by Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT., On Friday, he told ABC News Live Prime Anchor Linsey Davis on Monday night: “People love someone who fights for them in Washington and that is what we are offering.”
He said that the support of Sanders, what he had criticized, seemed to be an asset when he talked to the voters who appreciated the message of the senator.
Josh Weil, school teacher and democratic candidate for the sixth seat of the Florida Congress district in the United States Representatives Chamber, speaks at an event of the City Council in Ocela, Florida, on March 26, 2025.
Octavio Jones/Reuters
In the special elections in the first district of Florida, located in the westernmost part of Panhandle, Republican candidate Jimmy Patronis, Florida Financial Director, faces Democratic candidate Gay Valimont, an activist for prevention of armed violence. Valimont was the Democratic candidate in 2024, losing Gaetz for more than 30 percentage points.
Trump has also presented his support behind Patronis.
Florida’s financial director Jimmy Patronis speaks during a meeting between Governor Ron Desantis and the state cabinet at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 5, 2025.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP, files
The president said in a telephone demonstration on Thursday: “Jimmy has done an outstanding job as financial director of the state of Florida, helping to guide his state to tremendous economic success. And now he wants to continue fighting for Florida in Congress, and he will do that, and will vote to defend Social Security, protect Medicar will, all these things … under great danger with the Democrats.”
Patronis, speaking after Trump, told the listeners: “Look, if you do not excite you to listen to the president at this time, then you must verify your pulse with President Trump and the White House. A republican majority in Congress, we have a unique opportunity in life to transform this country.”
Meanwhile, Valimont has raised more than Patronis, according to the presentations of the Federal Electoral Commission, which show Valimont has raised around $ 6 million while patronis high $ 2 million.
The Gay Valimont Democratic candidate poses for a portrait outside his campaign office in Pensacola, Florida, on March 17, 2025.
Kate Payne/AP, file
“In Congress, I will show the first district of Florida how it looks when the government really works for people and our needs,” Valimont He wrote on Monday.
-John Parkinson, Lauren Peller and Hannah Demissie of ABC News, contributed to this report.
