Emily Gregory wins Florida special election to rep Trump
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- Democratic candidate Emily Gregory is projected to win a special election for Florida's House District 87, flipping the seat from Republican to Democratic control; the district includes President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club.
- Gregory leads Republican Jon Maples, who was endorsed by Trump, with 51.2% of the vote compared to 48.8% as of 9 p.m. ET, with over 95% of votes counted.
- Democrats view this victory as a significant warning to Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, highlighting a trend of Democratic gains in traditionally GOP-held state legislative seats since Trump’s return to the White House.
- Party leaders emphasized that flipping a Trump-favored district signals vulnerability for Republicans nationwide amid economic concerns like rising gas and grocery prices.
- Emily Gregory, a first-time candidate and small business owner, won the special election to fill a seat vacated by Republican Mike Caruso, who resigned to become Palm Beach County clerk.
