Democrat Emily Gregory won a special election in Florida, flipping a state House district that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The Associated Press projected Gregory as the winner on Tuesday evening, defeating Republican Jon Maples.
The race was considered a surprise upset, as the district was previously held by a Republican who won by 19 percentage points in 2024. President Trump had endorsed Maples, urging voters to support him, citing backing from “Palm Beach County friends.”
Democrats are celebrating the victory as a sign of shifting voter sentiment ahead of the November midterm elections. This win marks at least the second notable Democratic victory in Florida in recent months, following Eileen Higgins’ election as Miami mayor in December.
With almost all votes counted, Gregory led by 2.4 percentage points, or 797 votes. Democrats claim this is the 29th seat they have flipped from Republican control since President Trump took office.