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2025 Florida's 1st congressional district special election

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2025 Florida's 1st congressional district special election

The 2025 Florida's 1st congressional district special election was held on April 1, 2025, to fill a vacant seat in Florida's 1st congressional district previously occupied by Matt Gaetz, who resigned on November 13, 2024, after president-elect Donald Trump nominated him for attorney general of the United States. Gaetz later withdrew his nomination for attorney general on November 21. The following day, Gaetz announced he would not return to Congress. He had been reelected for a sixth term earlier in the month, but declined to take his seat. It was considered a safe Republican district. The election was held alongside a concurrent special election for Florida's 6th congressional district. The race was called for Patronis almost immediately after polls closed. Despite Patronis' victory, Democrats significantly improved their margins in this election, overperforming their 2024 result by 17.4 percentage points and flipping Escambia County, Valimont's home county and home to Pensacola. Valimont became the first Democrat running for this district to win the county since Earl Hutto in 1992. This is the strongest Democratic performance in this district during the 21st century.

Infobox

Nominee
Jimmy Patronis
Party
Republican
Popular vote
97,370
Percentage
56.86%

Tables

Republican primary results[33] · Republican primary › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
51,330
Candidate
100.0
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Jimmy Patronis
33,742
65.7
Republican
Joel Rudman
5,099
9.9
Republican
Aaron Dimmock
3,423
6.7
Republican
Gene Valentino
3,093
6.0
Republican
Michael Dylan Thompson
2,548
5.0
Republican
Greg Merk
1,287
2.5
Republican
Jeff Peacock
743
1.4
Republican
Kevin Gaffney
634
1.2
Republican
John Mills
574
1.1
Republican
Jeff Macey
187
0.4
Total votes
51,330
100.0
· General election › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Cash on hand
Jimmy Patronis (R)
Jimmy Patronis (R)
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Jimmy Patronis (R)
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
$2,126,409
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
$1,311,824
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
$814,585
Gay Valimont (D)
Gay Valimont (D)
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Gay Valimont (D)
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
$6,484,474
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
$4,315,536
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
$2,177,181
Source: Federal Election Commission
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of March 12, 2025
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Jimmy Patronis (R)
$2,126,409
$1,311,824
$814,585
Gay Valimont (D)
$6,484,474
$4,315,536
$2,177,181
Source: Federal Election Commission
2025 Florida's 1st congressional district special election[37] · General election › Results
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Party
171,248
Candidate
100%
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
mw- ±%
Republican
Jimmy Patronis
97,370
56.86%
−9.17%
Democratic
Gay Valimont
72,375
42.26%
+8.29%
Independent
Stephen Broden
1,384
0.81%
N/A
Write-in
Stanley Gray
88
0.05%
N/A
Write-in
Stan McDaniels
31
0.02%
N/A
Total votes
171,248
100%
Republican hold
· General election › Results › By County
#
#
County
#
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
%
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
#
Gay ValimontDemocratic
%
Gay ValimontDemocratic
#
Stephen BrodenIndependent
%
Stephen BrodenIndependent
#
Margin
%
Escambia
Escambia
County
Escambia
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
35,849
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
48.10%
Gay ValimontDemocratic
38,126
Gay ValimontDemocratic
51.16%
Stephen BrodenIndependent
520
Stephen BrodenIndependent
0.70%
Margin
2,277
Margin
3.06%
Total votes cast
74,530
Okaloosa
Okaloosa
County
Okaloosa
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
26,047
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
60.78%
Gay ValimontDemocratic
16,407
Gay ValimontDemocratic
38.28%
Stephen BrodenIndependent
375
Stephen BrodenIndependent
0.88%
Margin
9,640
Margin
22.50%
Total votes cast
42,857
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa
County
Santa Rosa
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
27,038
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
63.90%
Gay ValimontDemocratic
14,774
Gay ValimontDemocratic
34.92%
Stephen BrodenIndependent
443
Stephen BrodenIndependent
1.05%
Margin
12,264
Margin
28.98%
Total votes cast
42,310
Walton
Walton
County
Walton
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
8,436
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
73.03%
Gay ValimontDemocratic
3,068
Gay ValimontDemocratic
26.56%
Stephen BrodenIndependent
46
Stephen BrodenIndependent
0.40%
Margin
5,368
Margin
46.47%
Total votes cast
11,551
Totals
Totals
County
Totals
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
97,370
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
56.86%
Gay ValimontDemocratic
72,375
Gay ValimontDemocratic
42.26%
Stephen BrodenIndependent
1,384
Stephen BrodenIndependent
0.81%
Margin
24,995
Margin
14.60%
Total votes cast
171,248
County
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
Gay ValimontDemocratic
Stephen BrodenIndependent
Margin
Total votes cast
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
Escambia
35,849
48.10%
38,126
51.16%
520
0.70%
2,277
3.06%
74,530
Okaloosa
26,047
60.78%
16,407
38.28%
375
0.88%
9,640
22.50%
42,857
Santa Rosa
27,038
63.90%
14,774
34.92%
443
1.05%
12,264
28.98%
42,310
Walton
8,436
73.03%
3,068
26.56%
46
0.40%
5,368
46.47%
11,551
Totals
97,370
56.86%
72,375
42.26%
1,384
0.81%
24,995
14.60%
171,248

References

  1. $12,000 of this total was self-funded by Patronis
  2. "Special Election set to replace Matt Gaetz"
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/707886-special-elections-cd1-cd6/
  3. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/13/matt-gaetz-resigns-congress-00189488
  4. CNBC
    https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/21/trump-ag-pick-matt-gaetz-says-hes-withdrawing.html
  5. Newsweek
    https://www.newsweek.com/florida-special-election-district-1-trump-patronis-valimont-2053957
  6. NPR
    https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5348089/florida-congressional-results-gop-patronis-fine
  7. firstcoastnews.com
    https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/politics/democrat-gay-valimont-flips-stronghold-escambia-county/77-7e5c5092-d098-4cff-bbe9-3de4ea48aff3
  8. Cook Political Report
    https://www.cookpolitical.com/cook-pvi/2022-partisan-voting-index/district-map-and-list
  9. "2024 General Election November 5, 2024 Official Election Results"
    https://floridaelectionwatch.gov/FederalOffices/USRepresentative
  10. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/709566-jimmy-patronis-officially-resigns-as-chief-financial-officer/
  11. "Field Of 16 Candidates Set In Special Election To Replace Matt Gaetz. Here's The List"
    https://www.northescambia.com/2024/12/field-of-16-candidates-set-in-special-election-to-replace-matt-gaetz-heres-the-list
  12. Pensacola News Journal
    https://www.pnj.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/26/matt-gaetz-special-election-for-congress-includes-jimmy-patronis/76565184007/
  13. WEAR-TV
    https://weartv.com/news/local/rudman-announces-intention-to-join-congressional-race-resigns-as-state-representative
  14. Mid Bay News
    https://midbaynews.com/post/matt-gaetz-resigned-now-what-how-we-elect-a-new-representative
  15. "Gene Valentino announces campaign to succeed Matt Gaetz"
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/709278-gene-valentino-announces-campaign-to-succeed-matt-gaetz/
  16. Florida's Voice
    https://flvoicenews.com/multiple-candidates-drop-out-of-race-for-gaetzs-seat-after-cfo-patronis-confirms-run-receives-trump-endorsement/
  17. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/709890-nathan-nelson-becomes-the-fourth-candidate-to-drop-cd-1-bid-after-donald-trump-endorsement-for-jimmy-patronis/
  18. Pensacola News Journal
    https://www.pnj.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/25/jimmy-patronis-runs-michelle-salzman-leaves-race-for-matt-gaetz-seat/76569785007/
  19. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/710351-jeff-witt-becomes-fifth-cd-1-candidate-to-drop-out-and-endorse-jimmy-patronis/
  20. Pensacola News Journal
    https://www.pnj.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/14/matt-gaetz-congressional-seat-successor-faces-crowded-election/76288464007/
  21. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/709065-doug-broxson-wont-run-to-succeed-matt-gaetz-in-congress/
  22. WUWF
    https://www.wuwf.org/local-news/2024-11-15/gaetz-resignation-sparks-political-shake-up-in-northwest-florida
  23. The Hill
    https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5004829-gaetz-house-congress-florida-trump-attorney-general/
  24. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/710730-joel-rudman-qualifies-in-cd-1-lands-bernadette-pittman-endorsement/
  25. WUWF
    https://www.wuwf.org/local-news/2024-11-25/niceville-fighter-pilot-jeff-witt-seeks-matt-gaetzs-former-congressional-seat
  26. CNN
    https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-transition-news-11-25-24#cm3x87d7h000z3b6nbs3akecr
  27. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/710490-mike-johnson-endorses-jimmy-patronis-to-succeed-matt-gaetz-in-congress/
  28. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/713022-sheriffs-of-cd-1-unanimously-support-jimmy-patronis/
  29. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/714102-afp-action-fl-puts-its-influence-behind-jimmy-patronis-in-race-to-replace-matt-gaetz/
  30. Ballotpedia
    https://ballotpedia.org/Endorsements_by_Veterans_for_America_First
  31. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/709770-incoming-border-czar-endorses-gene-valentino-in-cd-1-race/
  32. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/709415-jeff-witt-latest-veteran-to-enter-fight-for-matt-gaetzs-congressional-seat/
  33. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/708187-matt-gaetz-don-gaetz-arent-endorsing-in-cd-1-gop-primary/
  34. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/01/28/us/elections/results-florida-us-house-1-special-primary.html
  35. Florida Politics
    https://floridapolitics.com/archives/708459-gay-valimont-announces-another-cd-1-run-days-after-losing-to-matt-gaetz/
  36. "Everytown For Gun Safety Endorses First Round of Moms Demand Action Volunteers, Everytown Leaders Running for Office"
    https://momsdemandaction.org/everytown-for-gun-safety-endorses-first-round-of-moms-demand-action-volunteers-everytown-leaders-running-for-office/
  37. fec.gov
    https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/FL/06/2026/
  38. results.elections.myflorida.com
    https://results.elections.myflorida.com/DetailRpt.Asp?ELECTIONDATE=4/1/2025&RACE=USR&PARTY=&DIST=001&GRP=&DATAMODE=
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