Patronis secures victory in Florida special election to replace Gaetz, providing GOP critical House vote
The 52-year-old Republican emerged victorious against Democrat Gay Valimont in a special election that took place following Matt Gaetz's resignation late last year.
TroibNews 
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Jimmy Patronis, a well-known figure in Tallahassee who has served as the state's chief financial officer, is heading to Congress, as reported by the Associated Press. He was selected by voters in Matt Gaetz’s former district to take over the position previously held by the controversial congressman.
The 52-year-old Republican won against Democrat Gay Valimont in a special election that followed Gaetz's resignation late last year, which he initiated in an attempt to become President Donald Trump’s attorney general, though that effort was short-lived.
Valimont, an activist focused on gun violence prevention who previously challenged Gaetz in the last November election, outperformed Patronis in fundraising before the special election. She held him accountable for the state's property insurance crisis due to his significant involvement in regulating the sector, and she criticized the federal budget cuts endorsed by the Trump administration that she claimed would negatively impact military veterans in the district, which has a strong military presence.
However, the 1st District, which stretches from the Alabama border to just west of Panama City, is a stronghold for Republicans; Trump secured 68 percent of the votes in November. Trump endorsed Patronis at the beginning of the election, and he won the GOP primary decisively against nine other challengers.
Patronis embraced the Trump endorsement, labeling Valimont as “crazy” and suggesting that her financial support stemmed from Democrats outside northwest Florida who “hate Donald Trump.”
“Frankly, they do not like people from the Florida Panhandle,” Patronis stated last week during a telephone rally with Trump.
Matt Gaetz, whose father is a former state Senate president and a prominent GOP figure in the region, was first elected to Congress in 2016. He faced scrutiny from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year for his part in McCarthy's ousting but secured the GOP primary with ease and ultimately defeated Valimont.
Gaetz resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him for a Cabinet position; he later withdrew from consideration amid a House Ethics investigation relating to sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
Patronis, whose family owns a popular restaurant in Panama City, previously served in the state legislature where he diverged from the GOP establishment in 2010 to support Rick Scott during the gubernatorial primary. After leaving the legislature, Scott appointed Patronis to the Florida Public Service Commission, which oversees utility regulation. Subsequently, he was chosen by Scott to be chief financial officer after Jeff Atwater’s resignation.
Having served two terms in the statewide role, Patronis could not run for re-election due to term limits. He opted to enter the race to succeed Gaetz, despite residing just outside the northwest Florida district.
Patronis's exit as chief financial officer has sparked interest in Tallahassee, as Governor Ron DeSantis has yet to announce a successor. State Sen. Joe Gruters, an ally of Trump, is eyeing the position and plans to run for it in 2026, while state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a staunch defender of DeSantis, is also interested. Trump has already backed Gruters for chief financial officer, raising the possibility of renewed tensions between the governor and the former president should DeSantis choose Ingoglia.
On Tuesday, DeSantis stated he intends to appoint an acting CFO soon and aims to appoint a permanent replacement “no later than the middle of May.” He mentioned that he is “vetting” potential candidates and that “some people are expressing interest.” Patronis has questioned Florida's ability to meet its financial obligations without a permanent CFO, but DeSantis disagreed with this interpretation of the law.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
The 52-year-old Republican won against Democrat Gay Valimont in a special election that followed Gaetz's resignation late last year, which he initiated in an attempt to become President Donald Trump’s attorney general, though that effort was short-lived.
Valimont, an activist focused on gun violence prevention who previously challenged Gaetz in the last November election, outperformed Patronis in fundraising before the special election. She held him accountable for the state's property insurance crisis due to his significant involvement in regulating the sector, and she criticized the federal budget cuts endorsed by the Trump administration that she claimed would negatively impact military veterans in the district, which has a strong military presence.
However, the 1st District, which stretches from the Alabama border to just west of Panama City, is a stronghold for Republicans; Trump secured 68 percent of the votes in November. Trump endorsed Patronis at the beginning of the election, and he won the GOP primary decisively against nine other challengers.
Patronis embraced the Trump endorsement, labeling Valimont as “crazy” and suggesting that her financial support stemmed from Democrats outside northwest Florida who “hate Donald Trump.”
“Frankly, they do not like people from the Florida Panhandle,” Patronis stated last week during a telephone rally with Trump.
Matt Gaetz, whose father is a former state Senate president and a prominent GOP figure in the region, was first elected to Congress in 2016. He faced scrutiny from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year for his part in McCarthy's ousting but secured the GOP primary with ease and ultimately defeated Valimont.
Gaetz resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him for a Cabinet position; he later withdrew from consideration amid a House Ethics investigation relating to sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
Patronis, whose family owns a popular restaurant in Panama City, previously served in the state legislature where he diverged from the GOP establishment in 2010 to support Rick Scott during the gubernatorial primary. After leaving the legislature, Scott appointed Patronis to the Florida Public Service Commission, which oversees utility regulation. Subsequently, he was chosen by Scott to be chief financial officer after Jeff Atwater’s resignation.
Having served two terms in the statewide role, Patronis could not run for re-election due to term limits. He opted to enter the race to succeed Gaetz, despite residing just outside the northwest Florida district.
Patronis's exit as chief financial officer has sparked interest in Tallahassee, as Governor Ron DeSantis has yet to announce a successor. State Sen. Joe Gruters, an ally of Trump, is eyeing the position and plans to run for it in 2026, while state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a staunch defender of DeSantis, is also interested. Trump has already backed Gruters for chief financial officer, raising the possibility of renewed tensions between the governor and the former president should DeSantis choose Ingoglia.
On Tuesday, DeSantis stated he intends to appoint an acting CFO soon and aims to appoint a permanent replacement “no later than the middle of May.” He mentioned that he is “vetting” potential candidates and that “some people are expressing interest.” Patronis has questioned Florida's ability to meet its financial obligations without a permanent CFO, but DeSantis disagreed with this interpretation of the law.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
