Florida Democrats on Tuesday won a special election for a long-vacant Republican-held state House seat in a Palm Beach County district that includes Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s residence. According to the Associated Press, Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples in the race for Florida’s House District 87.
The seat had been vacant since August, when former Republican state Rep. Mike Caruso resigned to become Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller.
The contest was one of three special legislative elections held on Tuesday in the Sunshine State. While the results are not expected to alter the balance of power in the state legislature—where Republicans have maintained majorities in both chambers for more than 25 years—the race carried symbolic significance as it took place in a district closely associated with Trump.
Maples was supported by Trump, who moved his primary permanent residence in 2019 from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. He is also endorsed by several prominent Republicans in the Sunshine State.
“There is a very important Special Election tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th, for Florida State House District 87 in beautiful Palm Beach County — JON MAPLES HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!” the president noted in a social media post on Monday evening, Fox News reported.
Republican candidate Jon Maples, 43, a financial planner and former Lake Clarke Shores council member, emphasized lowering taxes and government spending, reducing regulations, encouraging private-sector job growth, and expanding school choice as central themes of his campaign. He was also a former All-American athlete during his time at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Democrat Emily Gregory, 40, an Army spouse and business owner, operates a Jupiter-based fitness center focused on prenatal and postpartum care. In her first run for office, she centered her campaign on affordability, increasing investment in public education, addressing rising property insurance and housing costs, and expanding access to healthcare.
Maples entered the special election as the favored candidate, benefiting from a fundraising advantage in a district that has leaned Republican in recent elections. Donald Trump carried the district by approximately 10 points in the 2024 election, and former state Rep. Mike Caruso won reelection there by 19 points.
Palm Beach County, once considered a reliably Democratic stronghold, has shifted in recent election cycles as Republicans have made gains in the region. The Democratic victory marks the party’s latest win or overperformance in a series of special elections and off-year contests since Donald Trump returned to the White House 14 months ago.
Party strategists have pointed in part to a strong emphasis on affordability concerns, as voters continue to grapple with persistent inflation. The recent results are also providing momentum for Democrats as they aim to regain control of the U.S. House and potentially the Senate in this fall’s midterm elections.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC), in a statement Tuesday night, called Gregory’s win “an earthshattering victory for Florida Democrats and a humiliating defeat for Donald Trump.”
“Donald Trump’s own neighbors just sent a crystal clear message: They are furious and ready for change,” DNC chair Ken Martin emphasized in a statement. “If Democrats can win in Trump’s own backyard, we can win anywhere. From now until November, Democrats are all gas and no brakes as we compete across every corner of Florida and the nation.”
The Republican National Committee (RNC) stated that special elections are not always reliable indicators of future outcomes. “A low-turnout state House special election is a snapshot of local quirks, candidate dynamics, and turnout math — not some grand verdict.” RNC Senior Adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
In another special election for the Florida House, Republican Hilary Holley won against Democrat Edwin Perez. This election was held to replace GOP state Rep. Josie Tomkow. The district encompasses parts of Polk County, located in the central region of the state.