Republicans win Florida special elections in Trump Strethrestions by narrower margins than in 2024

Ormond Beach, Florida (AP) – Republicans Jimmy Patronis And Randy Fine won special elections on Tuesday in two districts of the Florida Congress, reinforced by the approval of President Donald Trump to fill vacant seats in republican bastions reliably.

Patronis, the state director of the State, has rejected a challenge to the Gay Democrat Valimont even if it far out and exceed him. He will fill the headquarters of the 1st-West District in Florida left vacant by former representative Matt Gaetz, who was chosen to be Trump Attorney General but withdrew from consideration in the middle sexual misconduct allegationsWhat he denied.

In the 6th district of northern Florida, Fine won the Josh Weil Democrat Challenger for a seat left vacant by Mike Waltz when it was operated to become a national security advisor of Trump.

Victory strengthens the margin of the Republicans at 220-213 in the House of Representatives.

Special elections are often low -yield events that can lead to surprising results. Although the GOP victories are widely expected in the two districts – two of the country’s most republicans – it should be noted that Democrats have considerably reduced the margins from November.

The races were among the first electoral tests of the new Trump administration. The margins of narrowing can point out a change of public feeling, motivated by unusually strong enthusiasm as a democrats from across the country paid millions in races. The opposition party hoped that the counterpoup to the president Redesign of federal agencies And federal workers Would size in the margins of the GOP in the polls.

Trump takes credit for victories

Trump congratulated the two candidates on Tuesday evening and said that his approval had helped them win a victory.

“Trump approval, as always, turned out to be much greater than the Democratic forces of evil. Congratulations to America!” He said about his social platform for truth.

In a restaurant by the water from Pensacola, congratulating text messages were already lit the patronis phone from the first results on Tuesday evening. Patronis worked on the crowd of around 100 people, shaking his hand and cuddling, his wife Katie and two sons in a trailer.

“Make sure that this election is a reminder that the Florida Panhandle will always be red, and it will always be Trump Country,” patronis told his supporters. “And even their $ 6 million could not overcome a simple article on Donald Trump’s social networks.”

Fine spoke about 100 supporters at 2A Ranch Saloon in Ormond Beach, a barn -shaped building decorated with Trump Decor, including cardboard cuts from the president and a photo signed by First Lady Melania Trump. Above the fine, a “Trump is still my president” unmissable president of the air balcony.

After the speech, fine minimized the narrowing margin, saying that it was two figures and during a special election.

“I think it is difficult to say that it is an underperformance,” said fine.

Weil said 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 non -elected oligarchs that separate the government,” said Weil.

What do the results show?

The republicans of the two districts are on the right track to win with narrower margins than their predecessors in each county. They are also on the right track to follow Trump’s share in 2024 of the vote in the two districts of the congress.

In the 6th Congress district, Trump received approximately 65% ​​of the vote in 2024, just behind the 67% waltz received during his last re -election offer from the room. During Tuesday’s special elections, Fine underperformed the waltz of approximately 10 percentage points.

In the County of Volusia, Trump received 58% and Waltz received around 60% in 2024, while Fine oscillated around 50% with almost all the votes reported.

Fine, a self -proclaimed “conservative brand”, had faced increasing pressure during the last days of the race while some Republicans have publicly criticized its campaign and fundraising efforts, wondering if this race would embarrass the Republicans less than 100 days in the administration of Trump. Weil’s campaign has collected an eye of $ 9 million compared to $ 1 million in fine.

National Democratic leaders have attributed the success of Weil fundraising to what they have described as general indignation against Trump. This contempt did not manage to materialize in greater numbers to reverse the result, thwarting the hope of the Democrats to achieve a huge upheaval which would have supported its party.

The president of the National Democratic Committee Ken Martin said that the results showed that “the Democrats outperformed”. The National Committee of the Republican Congress said that the victories had sent a message that “the Americans are excited to elect leaders who will fight for the president of President Trump and reject the failed democrats,” said spokesman Mike Marinella.

What did the voters say?

Carol Vyhonsky, who went to the Electoral Festival of Fine from his home in Brevard County with a group of her friends, said that she had no problem with the victory of Fine was not as strong as that of her predecessor last year.

“The survey seemed a little uncertain there for a while, but it happened,” said Vyhonsky. “As long as he won, it’s the important thing.”

Retirement nurse Brenda Ray and her husband, the Vietnam War veteran Mike Ray, went to the polls to support patronis earlier in the day. Brenda Ray said that she did not know much about him but supported him because she believes that he “would vote with our president”.

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

Who are good and patronis?

Fine was elected for the first time at Florida House in 2016 and ran each year as a representative until 2024, when he successfully won his elections in the Florida Senate. He is known for his support for Israel and his efforts to restrict LGBTQ +rights.

The family of patronis founded the famous restaurant in Panama City, Captain Anderson, located along the Gulf of Mexico. He has been involved in Florida’s policy since he was at the University, in internship in the Florida Senate before being elected to the House of Representatives of Florida in 2006. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott will become the State Director of the State in 2017 and won races to keep the office at the office level in 2018 and 2022.

___

Kate Payne is a member of the body for the Associated Press / Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national services program that places journalists from local editorial rooms to report on under-cover issues.

___ Payne reported to Pensacola. Gomez Licon reported to Fort Lauderdale.