Money has been pouring into Democratic campaigns in two Florida special elections, boosting hope for the party in two solidly red districts.
Democrats Gay Valimont and Josh Weil, candidates for Florida’s 1st and 6th congressional districts, respectively, have raised more than $16 million. The cash haul is outpacing their Republican opponents, who have brought in millions less — $3.1 million combined.
The seats became available after GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz left the House of Representatives. Waltz became national security adviser in the Trump administration, and Gaetz mounted a failed bid to become President Donald Trump’s attorney general.
While the seats are unlikely to flip, the fundraising figures reveal Democrats are engaged in the effort to cut into the GOP’s House majority. Weil has raised $9.5 million in the slightly more competitive race of the two districts, most of which has come within the last few months.
Weil is a public school teacher running on a border control and universal healthcare platform.
Valimont, who is running in a district that has been dominated by Republicans over the last 20-plus years, has raised $6.5 million. She is emphasizing border control along with bringing a Veterans Affairs hospital into the district.
With early voting starting Saturday, the April 1 special election could be a barometer for how Democrats will fare in the 2026 midterm elections. An overperformance from either Democratic candidate could indicate voter dissatisfaction with the Trump administration.
The Democratic National Committee is putting resources into both races, announcing Thursday that it will provide funding for a Florida Democratic Party campaign to boost organizing and voter protection efforts. The size of the expenditure was not disclosed, but Nikki Fried, the state party chairwoman, said it will allow them to “enter the final weeks of this race with the momentum we need to ramp up our organizing efforts when it counts the most.”
Fried is optimistic that the races “could be the biggest upset elections of the year.”
DNC Chairman Ken Martin said he wanted to “compete in elections everywhere” and that “voters want a change” everywhere, including in Gaetz’s and Waltz’s former districts.
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Trump has endorsed the Republican nominees, state Sen. Randy Fine and former Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, in the 6th and 1st districts, respectively.
Such an endorsement could ring loud in two districts that voted for Trump over then-Vice President Kamala Harris by more than 30 points each. Trump won Florida’s 1st District, 68.10% to 30.88%, and the 6th District, 64.52% to 34.50%.