Politics
NEW: Dems Flip Key Seat In Red State
Democrats scored a surprise win in Florida on Tuesday, flipping a state House seat in Palm Beach County that includes President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Democrat Emily Gregory, a health and fitness small business owner, defeated Trump-backed Republican Jon Maples, a financial adviser, in the special election for Florida’s House District 87.
With more than 95% of the vote counted as of 8 p.m., Gregory was just over 51% and Maples was just under 49%, the results showed.
The race was triggered after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Republican Mike Caruso in August to serve as county clerk and comptroller, opening up the seat. Trump voted by mail in Tuesday’s election.
The outcome is already setting off alarm bells inside GOP circles because the district has been reliably red on paper. Caruso last won the seat by double digits, and Trump carried the district by roughly 9 points in 2024. Still, Democrats have pointed to Palm Beach County’s tightening margins, noting former Vice President Kamala Harris won the county by less than a point in the last presidential election.
National and state political players piled into the contest before Election Day. Trump endorsed Maples, and Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor, campaigned with him. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also backed the Republican.
🚨 BREAKING: Democrats just narrowly FLIPPED the Florida House District that represents Donald Trump in the state legislature
The Trump+11 Palm Beach seat has elected Emily Gregory (D) over Jon Maples (R) with voter turnout below 30%
Republicans now hope to flip it back in Nov pic.twitter.com/ObiTfeMQIT
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 24, 2026
On the Democratic side, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee supported Gregory, and Rep. Lois Frankel endorsed her. Retired Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, now running for U.S. Senate in Florida, also held a virtual fundraiser for Gregory.
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DLCC Chair Heather Williams framed the result as a warning sign for Republicans, posting: “Mar-a-Lago’s state House district just flipped from red to blue, which should have Republicans worried about their chances this November. A Trump +11 district in his own backyard shouldn’t be in play for Democrats, but tonight proves Republicans are vulnerable everywhere.”
Republicans, meanwhile, are likely to point to the realities of special elections, where turnout can be uneven and outcomes can swing fast. But even with those caveats, losing a seat this close to Mar-a-Lago is a headline no GOP strategist wanted.
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