{"id":2418689,"date":"2025-04-01T20:37:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T00:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jimmy-patronis-wins-florida-house-seat-vacated-by-matt-gaetz-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-01T20:38:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T00:38:49","slug":"jimmy-patronis-wins-florida-house-seat-vacated-by-matt-gaetz-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jimmy-patronis-wins-florida-house-seat-vacated-by-matt-gaetz-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Jimmy Patronis wins Florida House seat vacated by Matt Gaetz &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjimmy-patronis-wins-florida-house-seat-vacated-by-matt-gaetz-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2418689&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Jimmy Patronis, a Republican and the outgoing Chief Financial Officer of Florida, has won a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latest-poll-majority-of-americans-want-republican-party-to-control-the-senate-sean-hannity\/\" title=\"LATEST POLL: Majority of Americans Want ... Party to Control the Senate | Sean Hannity\">special election<\/a> to succeed Matt Gaetz in Florida\u2019s 1st Congressional District. Patronis secured 54% of the vote against Democrat Gay Valimont, who garnered 46%. The Associated Press declared Patronis the winner shortly after polls closed, marking a meaningful victory that strengthens the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, bringing their count to 220 seats.<\/p>\n<p>This election was especially noteworthy due to its high stakes for both parties, with Democrats hoping for a breakthrough to diminish the GOP majority after a recent success in a Pennsylvania Senate race. Valimont raised significantly more funds than Patronis during the campaign, totaling nearly $6.4 million. However, despite this financial advantage and grassroots enthusiasm from Democratic donors, the traditionally Republican-leaning district, which has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-johnson-impeachment-appears-to-be-distraction-from-what-democrat-leadership-knew-about-jan-6\/\" title=\"Sen. Johnson: Impeachment Appears to Be Distraction From What Democrat Leadership Knew About Jan. 6\">strong military presence<\/a>, favored Patronis.<\/p>\n<p>Patronis previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and has emphasized a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">conservative platform focused<\/a> on economic growth and border security. Gaetz, who vacated the seat amidst personal controversies and an ethics inquiry, had held the position as 2017.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Jimmy Patronis wins Florida House seat vacated by Matt Gaetz&nbsp;in second GOP victory<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2079747\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Republican <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3303698\/house-republicans-randy-fine-jimmy-patronis-election-wins-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Jimmy Patronis\">Jimmy Patronis<\/a> has won the special election to succeed former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/matt-gaetz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)\">Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Florida\">Florida<\/a>&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p>Patronis, the outgoing Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Florida, defeated Democrat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3355083\/democrats-florida-special-elections-fundraise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Gay Valimont \">Gay Valimont <\/a>in the race for the seat that borders Alabama on the Gulf Coast in the westernmost part of the Florida panhandle.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3365542\/randy-fine-wins-florida-special-election-replace-waltz\/\">Randy Fine wins Florida special election in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-republicans-hope-to-gain-several-state-legislature-seats-in-nail-biter-races\/\" title=\"California ...s Hope to Gain Several State Legislature Seats in Nail-Biter ...s\">nail-biter race<\/a> to replace Waltz&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3366378\/where-democrat-confidence-in-florida-special-election-comes-from\/\">Where Democrats&#8217; confidence in Florida&#8217;s special election comes from<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3366349\/kentucky-democrat-pamela-stevenson-bid-mitch-mcconnell-senate-seat\/\">Kentucky Democrat Pamela Stevenson launches bid to fill McConnell&rsquo;s Senate seat<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The <em>Associated Press<\/em> called the race for Patronis at 8:20 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday. With about three-fourths of the ballots counted, Patronis led with 54% of the vote to Valimont&rsquo;s 46%.<\/p>\n<p>Patronis&rsquo;s victory is the second of the evening with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3365542\/randy-fine-wins-florida-special-election-replace-waltz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican Randy Fine winning\">Republican Randy Fine winning<\/a> in Florida&rsquo;s Sixth Congressional district to succeed Mike Waltz, who joined the Trump administration. <\/p>\n<p>The outcome of the special elections gives Republicans some breathing room in the narrowly divided chamber. Their slim 218-213 majority will boost to 220 seats once the new members are sworn in. <\/p>\n<p>As CFO, Patronis oversaw the state of Florida&rsquo;s finances and regulations and served as the State Fire Marshal, a position he has held since 2017. He also served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014, representing a district in the Panama City area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; Democratic candidate Gay Valimont poses for a portrait outside her campaign office in Pensacola, Fla. on March 17, 2025. (AP Photo\/Kate Payne, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The race received national attention after Democrats were hoping for a long-shot victory in an attempt to erode the GOP&rsquo;s narrow majority in the House. Democrats saw a glimmer of hope after achieving a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3359102\/democrat-flips-pennsylvania-state-senate-seat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">significant upset victory<\/a> in a GOP-leaning state Senate race in Pennsylvania last week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Valimont raised nearly $6.4 million from Jan. 9 to March 12, five times more than Patronis, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/candidate\/H4FL01197\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"fundraising reports\">fundraising reports<\/a> from the Federal Election Commission. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not invest in the race, but the Democratic National Committee stepped in to fund the rollout of a voter protection program in this district and in another special election in the 6th District but did not specify the dollar amount for the investment.<\/p>\n<p>The substantial funding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3357631\/democrats-footholds-florida-special-congressional-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"indicated enthusiasm\">indicated enthusiasm<\/a> among grassroots Democratic donors in a race taking place months after President Donald Trump was elected. However, despite the strong fundraising, the political landscape in the district heavily favored the GOP. In the 2024 election, Trump secured approximately 68% of the vote in the district,&nbsp;slightly surpassing the 66% Gaetz received that year. <\/p>\n<p>The district is among one of the most reliably Republican areas of the state. It is home to both Naval Air Station Pensacola and Eglin Air Force Base. The district also has nearly 20,000 federal workers, which is about 5.6% of the district&rsquo;s entire workforce, according to data from the Congressional Research Service.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz had represented the district since 2017, but he resigned just days after his 2024 re-election after Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3229178\/trump-nominates-matt-gaetz-as-attorney-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">nominated him<\/a> to be attorney general. Embroiled in a House ethics investigation, Gaetz <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3237670\/matt-gaetz-withdraws-attorney-general-nomination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">withdrew<\/a> himself from consideration after it was clear he didn&rsquo;t have the Senate votes, saying his confirmation was &ldquo;unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump\/Vance Transition.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3360491\/republicans-fret-florida-special-election-mike-waltz-district\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"REPUBLICANS FRET ABOUT FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTION IN RED DISTRICT: 'SET OFF ALARM BELLS'\">REPUBLICANS FRET ABOUT FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTION IN RED DISTRICT: &lsquo;SET OFF ALARM BELLS&rsquo;<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3360491%2Frepublicans-fret-florida-special-election-mike-waltz-district%2F\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Republicans+fret+about+Florida+special+election+in+red+district%3A+%E2%80%98Set+off+alarm+bells%E2%80%99&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3360491%2Frepublicans-fret-florida-special-election-mike-waltz-district%2F&amp;via=dcexaminer\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Republicans+fret+about+Florida+special+election+in+red+district%3A+%E2%80%98Set+off+alarm+bells%E2%80%99%20%0A%0A%20https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3360491\/republicans-fret-florida-special-election-mike-waltz-district\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3360491\/republicans-fret-florida-special-election-mike-waltz-district\/&amp;title=Republicans+fret+about+Florida+special+election+in+red+district%3A+%E2%80%98Set+off+alarm+bells%E2%80%99\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3360491\/republicans-fret-florida-special-election-mike-waltz-district\/#\"><\/a>Patronis received Trump&rsquo;s endorsement in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3303698\/house-republicans-randy-fine-jimmy-patronis-election-wins-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">crowded <\/a>10-person primary. He campaigned on a conservative platform focused on economic growth, border security, support for veterans, defending Second Amendment rights, and promoting American energy independence.<\/p>\n<p>Valimont had previously challenged Gaetz for the seat in November and received 34% of the vote compared to Gaetz&rsquo;s 66%. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3360491%2Frepublicans-fret-florida-special-election-mike-waltz-district%2F\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2079747\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2079747\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jimmy Patronis wins Florida House seat left by Matt Gaetz<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2418690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jimmy-Patronis.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32321,52662,45681,32688,32076],"class_list":["post-2418689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-results","tag-florida-house-seat","tag-jimmy-patronis","tag-matt-gaetz","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jimmy-Patronis.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2418689"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2418693,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418689\/revisions\/2418693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2418690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2418689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2418689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2418689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}