Four takeaways from the special elections in Florida and Wisconsin
CNN
Republicans expanded their narrow House majority Tuesday with closer-than-expected wins in special elections in two ruby-red Florida congressional districts.
Republicans expanded their narrow House majority Tuesday with closer-than-expected wins in special elections in two ruby-red Florida congressional districts. The wins in Florida’s 1st and 6th Districts — seats that opened when President Donald Trump plucked former Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz from districts he won by more than 30 percentage points last year for roles in his administration — allowed the GOP to breathe a sigh of relief Tuesday night. But the party’s shrinking margins in Florida could also be an ominous sign ahead of next year’s midterm elections, when a majority that grew from five to seven seats on Tuesday will be on the line. Polls in Florida closed earlier than those in Wisconsin, where a high-stakes state Supreme Court race — one where Trump ally Elon Musk has played a central role in seeking to drive up turnout — is expected to offer a window into how voters in a marquee swing state view the president’s performance so far. Here are three early takeaways from Tuesday’s contests: For House Speaker Mike Johnson, wins by Republicans Jimmy Patronis in Florida’s 1st District and Randy Fine in the 6th District mean more breathing room to advance Trump’s agenda.
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