Staff Reports
With U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz resigning ahead of his now-failed Attorney General bid, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Cord Byrd have delivered on a promise of an expedited timeline to replace him.
A Special Election in Florida’s 1st Congressional District will begin with a compressed qualifying period, running from Dec. 5-6.
Mail ballots will be sent out on Dec. 14 for military members and overseas voters and on Dec. 19 for other voters. Early voting will run from Jan. 18-25, with Election Day for the Primary on Jan. 28.
For the General Election, overseas mail ballots will go out on Feb. 15, followed by domestic ballots on Feb. 20. Early voting will be available March 22-29. Election Day will take place on April 1.
“At Governor Ron DeSantis’ direction, this Special Election is being conducted as quickly as statutorily possible,” Byrd said in a prepared statement Friday. “We are committed to ensuring this election is held as soon as we are allowed to hold it by state law.”
Though Democrats almost certainly will attempt to flip this seat, the former Panhandle seat advantages Republicans.
Located in the Panhandle and anchored by Pensacola, CD 1 is one of the state’s most conservative districts in the state.
Gaetz was elected to the seat in 2016, winning more than 69% of the vote. This year, he won with 66% of the vote. More than 53% of the electorate is registered as a Republican, according to the most recent L2 voter data. Only 22% of the district’s voters are registered as Democrats.
President-elect Donald Trump picked Gaetz to run for AG, prompting Gaetz’s resignation, which also came just before the House Ethics Committee voted to release a potentially damning report into his conduct. After details leaked out over the past several days, Gaetz withdrew his nomination while facing headwinds in the Senate.
The quick movement here to fill Gaetz’s seat vividly contrasts with the slow walk taken when filling a seat held by a Democrat a few years back.
When U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings passed away in office, DeSantis allowed nine months to pass between his death and the Special Election to replace him. The Governor is a former member of Congress, and understands keenly how important the balance of power is in the chamber.
Competition could be fierce for the seat, though with the caveat in all cases being that a Trump endorsement will probably drive the action in the GOP Primary and by extension the General Election.
Several GOP candidates have already announced runs, including state Reps. Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzman, former U.S. Senate candidate Keith Gross and Bikers for Trump leader Bernadette Pittman. Democrat Gay Valimont, whom Gaetz defeated in the General Election this month, is also running.
5 comments
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Preston Russ
November 24, 2024 at 8:25 pm
How come you didn’t mention John Frankman, former Captain in the United States Army and a Special Forces Green?
Dr Eddison Walters
November 25, 2024 at 1:22 pm
What have these individuals in the Florida Legislature do to support working families? Votes need to ask Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzma; What have they done to support working families? Why haven’t they supported Florida working families as elected officials right now? The Florida Legislature is the government for the rich as forgotten Florida working families continues to struggle to keep their head above water. Voters in Florida 1st Congressional District should support Dr Eddison Walters the MAGA Republican choice who has been in the fight for the forgotten American Worker for two decade. Someone needs to ask Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzma the question. Why haven’t they done anything to help the forgotten American worker while they were in office? While hardworking families struggle to keep their heads above water, Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzma does nothing to ease the rising cost of housing and the financial struggles of voters. A significant reason why housing costs continue to increase is because property tax and insurance costs continue to skyrocket as property values rise in Florida. The revenues from property taxes have grown from $27,774,755,770 in 2013 to more than double to $56,042,520,793, and the legislature keeps raising taxes as values continue to increase so they can spend even more taxpayers’ money while offering little relief to taxpayers. Legislators have also failed to deliver relief from skyrocketing insurance costs. Why do they continue to let property taxes increase when they could provide relief to lower housing costs? Why has insurance continued to grow?
Say no to Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzma for Florida 1st Congressional District because they do not deserve a promotion based on their failure to deliver for hardworking families. Here is a suggestion for both of them. They should propose legislation to provide relief that will lower property taxes and stop the outrageous government spending. At the rate property tax has increased, the legislature should have proposed a 50% homestead exemption property tax reduction on primary residences valued up to $500,000 and a 25% homestead exemption on the first $500,000 for primary homes valued over $500,000 instead of the ridicules increase of homestead exemption to $50,000 ballot initiatives that allow them to keep raising property taxes to spend more of taxpayers’ money. The legislature should also take steps to stabilize the rising cost of property taxes. Property taxes would not continue to increase so fast if Tallahassee had a fiscally disciplined legislature. They can also take on the insurance industry to lower the insurance cost. Taking steps to lower taxes and insurance can relieve rapidly rising housing costs. No one in the state legislature deserves a promotion until they deliver for hardworking families struggling to make ends meet.
Dr Eddison Walters
November 25, 2024 at 1:28 pm
What did these individuals in the Florida Legislature do to support working families while they were in office? Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzma have done nothing to support working families. Now they are running for Congress? Florida voters need an explanation. What have they done to help working families?
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