Democrats storm Trump backyard, bag Florida state legislature seat
India Today
Continuing on their string of victories in special elections since 2024, Democrats flipped the long-held Republican 87th House District in the Florida State House on Tuesday. The win, which comes ahead of the critical midterms in November, also hands Democrats a seat that is home to President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
In a major setback for the Republican Party, Democrats secured a win in a Florida state legislature special election on Tuesday. In doing so, they flipped the 87th House district, a longtime Republican stronghold that is also home to Mar-a-Lago, the sprawling resort complex that President Donald Trump has called his residence since 1985.
Democrats hailed the victory in the previously Republican-controlled House District 87 as a sign that voters are turning against Republicans and Trump before November's midterm elections, reported multiple US news outlets.
The Florida win is the latest in a string of lopsided victories pulled off by the Democratic Party in special elections which have seen red seats in states like Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia among others flipping blue.
According to a report by the news agency Associated Press (AP), the elections in Florida were necessitated by the stepping down of Mike Caruso, a Republican who resigned to become Palm Beach County's clerk. Caruso had won the seat by 19 percentage points in 2024. In response, the Republicans nominated local businessperson and civic leader, John Maples.
Maples, had on Monday received the personal endorsement of Trump, who wrote on Truth Social, "Jon is a very successful Businessman and civic leader, who is known and loved, and also endorsed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends, including by Great State Representative 'MAGA' Meg Weinberger. Jon will be a terrific legislator!" reported the US-based news outlet, Voz.
The Democrats, on the other hand, nominated Emily Gregory. According to AP, Gregory is a political debutant who has never run for political office, is the owner of a fitness company that works with pregnant and postpartum women, and had centred her campaign around the issues of affordability, healthcare and housing.
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