Democrats flip Florida state seat in Trump's backyard
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Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida state House seat in Trump's Mar-a-Lago district that Republicans previously held.
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Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a Republican-leaning Florida state House seat encompassing President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday, defeating Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples in the Palm Beach County special election despite the district backing Trump by 11 points in 2024. The upset reflects a broader pattern: Democratic candidates for state legislative seats this year have outperformed Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential vote totals by nearly 11 points, while Republican turnout has sagged significantly since Trump took office. The result signals potential trouble for Republicans in fall midterms, though GOP strategists maintain confidence in holding the Florida governorship and U.S. Senate seat. Republican National Committee Senior Adviser Danielle Alvarez dismissed the special election as reflecting "local quirks" rather than a broader trend, while Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin called it proof voters are "furious and ready for change."
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Democrats are looking to flip the Florida state House district, which includes President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, in a Tuesday special election. Small business owner Emily Gregory (D) is facing off against Trump-backed Jon Maples to take over the Republican-held seat vacated by Mike Caruso in August. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee views the district as…
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<p>Emily Gregory’s victory in district that includes Mar-a-Lago has revitalized the party before the crucial November vote</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campaign=BN22326&utm_content=signup&utm_term=standfirst&utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>Can the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/democrats">Democratic party</a> once again become a force to be reckoned with in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/florida">Florida</a>? That seemingly implausible question surfaced last Tuesday in the wake of upset victories scored by the party’s candidates in two state legislative races, one of whom defeated a Republican nominee’s bid to represent <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump<...
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Gregory clinched a narrow upset victory in the state House district, less than two years after the President won the area by double digits.
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