Current:Home > FinanceWhat to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz -EliteFunds
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
View
Date:2025-04-14 09:32:32
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! (476)
Related
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Faith groups say more foster families are needed to care for the children coming to the US alone
- Science says declining social invites is OK. Here are 3 tips for doing it
- Chilling 'Zone of Interest' imagines life next door to a death camp
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- U.S. helps negotiate cease-fire for Congo election as world powers vie for access to its vital cobalt
- Kevin McAllister's uncle's NYC townhouse from 'Home Alone 2' listed for $6.7 million
- Pregnant Suki Waterhouse Proudly Shows Off Her Bare Baby Bump on Tropical Vacation
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Actor Jonathan Majors found guilty on 2 charges in domestic assault trial
Ranking
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Toyota recalls 1 million vehicles for airbag issues: Check to see if yours is one of them
- Comedian Jo Koy is picked to host the Golden Globes as award season kicks off
- 'The Masked Singer' unveils Season 10 winner: Watch
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- ‘You are the father!’ Maury Povich declares to Denver Zoo orangutan
- Meet 'Ricardo': NJ Transit sells plush toy inspired by loose bull spotted on train tracks
- Here are some ways you can reduce financial stress during the holidays
Recommendation
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
Oregon man is convicted of murder in the 1978 death of a teenage girl in Alaska
Serbia opposition urges EU to help open international probe into disputed vote after fraud claims
When does Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 end and Season 2 begin?
Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
Wisconsin Republican proposal to legalize medical marijuana coming in January
Ex-Alabama prison officer gets 7 years behind bars for assaulting prisoners
GM buys out nearly half of its Buick dealers across the country, who opt to not sell EVs