Former DeSantis official defeats Dem for Matt Gaetz’s House seat

FloridacongressionalcandidateGayValimont,D-Fla.,discussesthespecialelectioninFlorida’sfirstcongressionaldistricton‘FoxNewsLive.’ RepublicanJimmyPatronis,theformerFloridachieffinancialofficerunderGov.RonDeSantis,fendedoffhisDemocratopponentandsuccessfullywontheracetosucceedformerRep.MattGaetzinFlorida’sspecialelectiononTuesday.  PresidentDonaldTrumpnotablycarriedthedistrict–whichislocatedinthefarnorthwesterncornerofFlorida,inthePanhandleregion–by37pointsinthe2024election.  The1stCongressionalDistrictspecialelection,inadditiontotheoneinthe6thDistricttoreplaceU.S.NationalSecurityAdvisorMikeWaltz,wereviewedbysomeasearlyreferendumsforTrump’ssecondterm.  HAWLEYOFFICIALLYAYESONDR.OZAFTERSECURINGCOMMITMENTSONTRANSGENDER,ABORTIONISSUES AspecialelectionwasheldtodeterminethesuccessortoMattGaetz’sFloridaHouseseat.(AP|Reuters) Trump,whoheldatele-townhallforPatronislatelastweek,voicedhissupport