Donald Trump’s power to pick political winners in his adopted home state gets another test Tuesday with special election primaries for the seats left vacant by former Republican congressmen Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz.
Special primaries in two conservative Florida districts will take place Tuesday to replace former U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz.
Donald Trump has endorsed Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine to succeed Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, respectively, in Florida's special House elections.
The races to fill the U.S. House seats of former Florida Reps. Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz began Tuesday with primaries in reliably conservative districts that solidly back President Donald Trump.
Florida will hold two special election primaries on Tuesday to replace President Trump’s national security adviser Mike Walz in the sixth congressional district and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)
Republican voters in several Florida counties head to the polls on Tuesday, where they will select GOP nominees to fill seats that were held by former Reps. Michael Waltz and Matt Gaetz.
Patronis has the Trump endorsement, boasts the best name recognition in the district, and went into the stretch run of the Primary race best positioned financially, with almost $711,000 cash on hand as of Jan. 8. To put that in perspective, no other candidate in the crowded field had more than $33,000 for the stretch run.
Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s chief financial officer running in the First District, and Randy Fine, a state senator running in the Sixth District, are seen as the favorites to fill the Republican-leaning congressional seats after President Trump endorsed them.
Voters in parts of northeast Florida have until 7 p.m. to cast a ballot in a special primary election to replace Rep. Michael Waltz. Waltz resigned from Congress on Jan. 20, to join the Trump administration as national security advisor.
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Jimmy Patronis, endorsed by Pres. Donald Trump, is campaigning in a crowded GOP primary for Florida’s 1st District, emphasizing fiscal conservatism and public service amid questions about residency and insurance industry ties.