Jimmy Patronis wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 1st Congressional District special primary election

Florida will hold two special election primaries on Tuesday to replace President Trump’s national security adviser Mike Walz in the sixth congressional district and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in the first congressional district.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties for the special primary election. Ten Republican candidates are on the ballot to fill the vacant Florida District 1 seat in Congress formerly held by Matt Gaetz.

With Fine running for Congress, Republican Florida Rep. Mayfield and Democrat Ahrens have said they are interested in running for his Senate seat

Democrats, torn nationally between progressive and moderate wings of the party, will have a similar choice in the Jan. 28 special primary election for U.S. House in Florida's 6th District.

Voters in four Central Florida counties have chosen the Republican and Democratic candidates who will compete in a special election to fill the U.S. House District 6 seat previously held by Mike Waltz.

Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s chief financial officer, is the Republican favorite to fill the vacant congressional seat after President Trump endorsed him.

Randy Fine, a state senator, is the Republican favorite to fill the vacant congressional seat after President Trump endorsed him.

Smart & Safe Florida has since filed for a new ballot amendment as it sets its sights on the midterm elections in 2026.

The wins put MAGA loyalists Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine on glide paths to Congress when they take on little-known Democratic opponents in special general elections on April 1.

The Associated Press projected that Republicans Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis easily won primaries in the seats once represented by Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz.