ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Republicans and won special elections Tuesday in two Florida congressional districts, bolstered by President Donald Trump鈥檚 endorsement to fill vacant seats in reliably Republican strongholds.
Patronis, the state鈥檚 chief financial officer, fended off a challenge from Democrat Gay Valimont even though she him. He will fill the northwest Florida 1st District seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was chosen to be Trump鈥檚 but withdrew from consideration amid , which he has denied.
In north Florida's 6th District, Fine won against Democratic challenger Josh Weil for a seat vacated by Mike Waltz when he was tapped to become Trump鈥檚 national security adviser.
The win bolsters Republicans鈥� margin to 220-213 in the House of Representatives.
Special elections are often low-turnout events that can lead to surprising results. While GOP wins were widely expected in both districts 鈥� two of the most heavily Republican in the country 鈥� it鈥檚 notable that Democrats narrowed the margins considerably from November.
The races were among the first electoral tests of Trump鈥檚 new administration. The narrowing margins may signal a shift in public sentiment, driven by unusually strong enthusiasm as Democrats from across the country poured millions into the races. The opposition party hoped that backlash to the president鈥檚 and would carve into the GOP鈥檚 margins at the polls.
Trump takes credit for the wins
Trump congratulated both candidates late Tuesday and said his endorsement helped them secure a victory.
鈥淭HE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!鈥� he said on his Truth Social platform.
At a waterfront restaurant in Pensacola, congratulatory text messages were already lighting up Patronis鈥� phone as early results were posted Tuesday night. Patronis worked the crowd of about 100 people, shaking hands and giving hugs, his wife Katie and two sons in tow.
鈥淟et it be known that this election is a reminder the Florida Panhandle will forever be red, and it鈥檒l forever be Trump country," Patronis told his supporters. 鈥淎nd even their $6 million could not overcome one simple post on social media by Donald Trump.鈥�
Fine spoke to about 100 supporters at the 2A Ranch Saloon in Ormond Beach, a barn-like building adorned with Trump decor, including cardboard cutouts of the president and a photo signed by first lady Melania Trump. Above Fine, a glowing 鈥淭rump is still my president鈥� sign hung from the overhead balcony.
After the speech, Fine downplayed the narrowing margin, saying it was in the double digits and in a special election.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 hard to say that鈥檚 an underperformance,鈥� Fine said.
Weil said in a statement that the 鈥渞ace was closer than anyone ever imagined.鈥�
鈥淭his result is also a warning sign to Donald Trump, Randy Fine, and the unelected oligarchs taking apart the government,鈥� Weil said.
What do the results show?
Republicans in both districts are on track to win with narrower margins than their predecessors in every county. They also are on track to trail Trump鈥檚 2024 share of the vote in the two congressional districts.
In the 6th Congressional District, Trump received roughly 65% of the vote in 2024, just behind the 67% Waltz received in his final House reelection bid. In Tuesday鈥檚 special election, Fine was underperforming Waltz by about 10 percentage points.
In Volusia County, Trump received 58% and Waltz received about 60% in 2024, while Fine was hovering around the 50% mark with nearly all the votes reported.
Fine, a self-described 鈥渃onservative firebrand,鈥� had faced growing pressure during the race鈥檚 final days as some Republicans publicly criticized his campaign and fundraising efforts, questioning whether this race would embarrass Republicans less than 100 days into Trump鈥檚 administration. Weil鈥檚 campaign raised an eye-popping $9 million compared to Fine鈥檚 $1 million.
National Democratic leaders attributed Weil鈥檚 fundraising success to what they characterized as widespread outrage against Trump. That outrage failed to materialize in large enough numbers to overturn the outcome, foiling Democrats鈥� hope to pull off a huge upset that would have buoyed their party.
The Democratic National Committee鈥檚 chair, Ken Martin, said the results showed 鈥淒emocrats overperformed.鈥� The National Republican Congressional Committee said the victories sent a message that 鈥淎mericans are fired up to elect leaders who will fight for President Trump鈥檚 agenda and reject the Democrats鈥� failed policies,鈥� spokesperson Mike Marinella said.
What did voters say?
Carol Vyhonsky, who drove to Fine鈥檚 election party from her home in Brevard County with a group of her friends, said she had no issues with Fine鈥檚 victory not being as strong as his predecessor's was last year.
鈥淭he polling was looking a little iffy there for a while, but he pulled through,鈥� Vyhonsky said. 鈥淎s long as he won, that鈥檚 the important thing.鈥�
Retired nurse Brenda Ray and her husband, Vietnam War veteran Mike Ray, made it to the polls to support Patronis earlier in the day. Brenda Ray said she didn鈥檛 know a lot about him but supported him because she believes he鈥檒l 鈥渧ote with our president.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 all we鈥檙e looking for,鈥� she said.
Who are Fine and Patronis?
Fine was first elected to the Florida House in 2016 and ran each year as a representative until 2024 when he successfully won his election to the Florida Senate. He is known for his support of Israel and his efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights.
Patronis鈥� family founded the well-known Panama City restaurant Capt. Anderson鈥檚, located along the Gulf of Mexico. He has been involved in Florida politics since he was in college, interning in the Florida Senate before being elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2006. He was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott to become the state鈥檚 CFO in 2017 and won races to keep the Cabinet-level office in 2018 and 2022.
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Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
___ Payne reported from Pensacola. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale.
Stephany Matat, Kate Payne And Adriana Gomez Licon, The Associated Press
