GOP strengthens House majority, holds two seats in Florida

The Republicans elected Tuesday to fill seats vacated by Matt Gaetz and Michael Walz received the endorsement of President Trump.

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Jimmy Patronis, last month. He won the race to replace Matt Gaetz in the First Congressional District, on the western end of the Panhandle.

Two Trump-backed Republicans won special congressional elections in Florida on Tuesday, strengthening their party's slim majority in the House at a crucial time for President Trump's domestic agenda, according to the Associated Press.

Jimmy Patronis, the state's chief financial officer, won the race to replace Matt Gaetz in the First Congressional District on the western end of the Panhandle. After most of the votes were counted Tuesday night, Mr. Patronis had 57 percent.

And state Sen. Randy Fine won the Sixth District seat previously held by Michael Waltz, now Mr. Trump's national security adviser. The district is based in Daytona Beach and parts of the northeast coast. Mr. Fine had 56.7 percent of the vote as of 9 p.m.

Both seats were expected to remain in Republican hands, although some private polls showed Mr. Fine facing a tight race with Josh Weil, his Democratic opponent. Mr. Weil and Gay Valimont, the Democrat who ran against Mr. Patronis, have each raised millions of dollars for their campaigns despite the Democratic struggle in Florida.

Florida's Sixth Congressional District Special Election Results

Get up-to-date results and maps for the 2025 Florida special election.

Mr. Gaetz resigned from his House seat last year after Mr. Trump nominated him to be attorney general. He later withdrew from consideration for the job amid an ethics probe into allegations of sexual harassment and drug use.

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