Democrat Flips Florida State House District That Includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
Democrat Emily Gregory managed to flip a Florida state district that includes Mar-a-Lago from President Trump in a special election Tuesday.
Gregory defeated Trump-backed Republican Jon Maples with 51 percent of the vote to 49 percent. The seat had been vacant since August, when Republican Mike Caruso resigned after being named Palm Beach County clerk.
“Florida’s 87th District is the 10th GOP-held state legislative seat that Democrats have flipped nationwide since Trump took office last year. Republicans have not flipped a Democratic state legislative seat during that time,” NBC News noted.
The district was won by Trump by 11 points over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. However, as the Hill noted, “although Caruso last won the seat by double digits and Trump won the district by about 9 percentage points in 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris won Palm Beach County by less than a point in the last presidential election.
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) share the district in the U.S. Congress.
“National groups and figures entered the race ahead of the special election, including Trump,” added the Hill. “Representative. Byron Donalds (R), a candidate for Florida governor, appeared alongside Maples during the campaign, while Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) also endorsed the financial advisor.
“Meanwhile, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) has endorsed Gregory and retired Lt. Col. Alex Vindman – a Senate candidate in the Sunshine State – hosted a virtual fundraiser for Gregory while Frankel supported the Democratic candidate,” it continues.
DLCC President Heather Williams hailed Gregory’s victory as a troubling sign for Republicans heading into the November midterms.
“The Mar-a-Lago district just flipped from red to blue, which should worry Republicans about their chances in November,” she said. “A Trump +11 district in his own backyard shouldn’t be in play for Democrats, but tonight proves Republicans are vulnerable everywhere.”
