Floridians will vote in two elections to determine the candidates who will face off in a pair of special elections on April 1. The election will fill the vacancies left by Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz. President Donald Trump nominated both representatives for positions in his administration.
Trump tapped Gaetz to be his attorney general nominee in November 2024. Gaetz resigned his House seat shortly afterward. Due to indications that several Senate Republicans would not support his nomination, Gaetz withdrew his name from the nomination and declined to reclaim his House seat. Trump replaced Gaetz with fellow Floridian Pam Bondi, who is currently awaiting a committee vote. Waltz is currently serving as Trump’s new national security adviser.
Both Gaetz and Waltz won their seats with over 65% of the vote in the 2024 election, and it is unlikely that Republicans will lose either seat.
The important part of these elections is the primaries, which will determine which Republicans will likely fill the vacancies.
Of the 10 Republicans competing to take Gaetz’s old seat, Trump endorsed Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who said one of his top priorities in Congress will be protecting veterans’ benefits.
“It’s disheartening to me when those individuals who have served all over the United States, serving their country, protecting our freedom, do not get the type of response from the government that they deserve,” he said.
Due to Trump’s endorsement, Patronis is a favorite in the primary race.
Trump also endorsed Florida State Senator Randy Fine to fill Waltz’s vacant seat. Fine has served in the state House since 2016 before being elected to the state Senate in 2024.
The winner of the primary for Florida’s 1st District will face Democrat Gay Valimont for the seat, who is running in her primary unopposed. Valimont previously ran against Gaetz for the seat last November. The winner of the primary for the 6th District will face either attorney George Selmont or educator Josh Weil.
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Due to the two vacancies, Republicans hold a thin 218-215 majority in the House. Trump needs nearly all House Republicans to fall in line to pass his agenda. As Friday’s Senate vote on the Pete Hegseth nomination showed, in which three Senate Republicans voted against the confirmation, Trump needs a cushion of a few votes to allow for rogue voters on key matters.
If Fine and Patronis win their nominations, Trump will likely be working with a 220-215 House majority. Even if a few House Republicans decide to break ranks, it won’t spell disaster for the Trump administration.