Current:Home > FinanceWhat to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz -BeyondProfit Compass
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
View
Date:2025-04-15 12:52:48
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The races to fill the U.S. House seats of former Reps. Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz begin Tuesday with primaries in reliably conservative districts that solidly back President Donald Trump.
One of the seats up for grabs is northwest Florida’s 1st Congressional District, long represented by Gaetz. He announced he wouldn’t be returning to Congressafter he withdrew from consideration to be Trump’s attorney generalamid allegations of sexual misconduct.
The other race is for the 6th Congressional District, which extends south of Jacksonville and includes Daytona Beach. The seat had been held by Waltz, who is now serving as Trump’s national security adviser, a position that doesn’t require Senate confirmation.
Republicans are expected to hold the seats, which will restore their thin 220-215 majority in the U.S. House as they pursue Trump’s agenda. But the push to implement Trump’s policies could be slowed as Congress waits for the primary winners to be confirmed in general elections scheduled for April 1.
Here’s what to know about Tuesday’s special elections.
Who are the Trump-endorsed candidates?
For the 1st District, Trump chose Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a former state lawmaker from Panama City whose family is well-known in the area for founding Capt. Anderson’s, a local seafood restaurant. Patronis has been a familiar face in Florida politics for decades and is a longtime ally of now-Sen. Rick Scott, who as governor appointed him to be Florida’s chief financial officer in 2017.
In the 6th District, Trump is backing state Sen. Randy Fine, a conservative firebrand known for his support of Israel and his efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights. Fine was first elected to the Florida House in 2016, and recently broke with Gov. Ron DeSantis, accusing the governor of not doing enough to combat antisemitism.
Who’s challenging Trump’s picks?
One of the main Republican challengers running against Patronis in the 1st District is former state Rep. Joel Rudman, a doctor who built his political profile by criticizing mask mandates during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fine faces two other Republicans in the 6th District race, Aaron Baker of Sorrento and Ehsan Joarder of Brooksville, who describes himself as a “young entrepreneur” on his website.
Who are the Democrats?
In the 1st District, Gay Valimont, an activist with Moms Demand Action, challenged Gaetz as a Democrat this past election cycle. She’s running again in the special election after losing in November with just 34% of the vote.
Waltz carried the 6th District by a 30-point margin in November. Now two Democrats are running for his seat — Josh Weil, an Orlando area teacher, and Ges Selmont, a businessman from Elkton. This isn’t Selmont’s first time running for Congress — he challenged Rep. John Rutherford in Florida’s 4th Congressional District in 2018.
What are experts watching?
In both districts, Republican primary winners should have the inside track to join Congress, said Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida.
Both Fine and Patronis had high name recognition even before winning Trump’s endorsement. But they’ve also both faced criticism for not living in the districts they want to represent. Jewett said the Republican primary for Gaetz’s seat in particular could prove competitive.
Jewett said there’s even a chance Democrats could run up the margins in a low turnout scenario, pointing to other recent special elections.
“Democrats might be able to take Waltz’s seat, but it would take a small miracle,” Jewett said. “I think for the Gaetz seat, that would be more than a small miracle. It would be like a very large miracle to take that one.”
___
Matat reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for Americais a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (594)
Related
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- LSU cornerback Javien Toviano arrested on accusation of video voyeurism, authorities say
- Wrexham’s Ollie Palmer Reveals What Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Are Really Like as Bosses
- Karen Read back in court after murder case of Boston police officer boyfriend ended in mistrial
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Proof Real Housewives of New Jersey's Season 14 Finale Will Change Everything
- Which country has the most Olympic medals of all-time? It's Team USA in a landslide.
- One teen is killed and eight others are wounded in shooting at Milwaukee park party, police say
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Olivia Rodrigo flaunts her sass, sensitivity as GUTS tour returns to the US
Ranking
- Trump's 'stop
- Takeaways from a day that fundamentally changed the presidential race
- Sam Smith Shares They Were Unable to Walk After Skiing Accident
- Blake Lively Reacts to Ryan Reynolds Divorce Rumors
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Dozens of Maine waterfront businesses get money to rebuild from devastating winter storms
- Israeli military airstrikes hit Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation to attacks
- What to know about Kamala Harris' viral coconut tree meme: You exist in the context of all in which you live
Recommendation
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Miss Kansas Alexis Smith, domestic abuse survivor, shares story behind viral video
Olivia Rodrigo flaunts her sass, sensitivity as GUTS tour returns to the US
Utah death row inmate who is imprisoned for 1998 murder asks parole board for mercy ahead of hearing
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Pressure mounts on Secret Service; agency had denied requests for extra Trump security
Thom Brennaman lost job after using gay slur. Does he deserve second chance?
3 rescued after homeowner's grandson intentionally set fire to Georgia house, officials say