Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida state House special election in the district that includes Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach resort, defeating Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples by 2.4 percentage points with 797 votes separating the candidates. The 40-year-old political newcomer and fitness company owner flipped a seat previously held by Republican Mike Caruso, who won by 19 percentage points in 2024 before resigning to become Palm Beach County’s clerk.
“I believed in myself the whole time,” Gregory said, describing her political “naiveté” about the district and its Republican leanings as an asset. She told reporters she focused heavily on constituents’ concerns involving the economy and everyday costs, from fast-rising insurance in the hurricane-prone district to groceries and gas. Gregory described herself as a lifelong “proud Florida Democrat” but said she did not run to be a face of the party or lead the opposition movement to Trump.
“The pendulum swings in both directions,” Florida Democratic chairwoman Nikki Fried told reporters. “Last night it swung hard in the state of Florida.” Fried added, “If we can win in Donald Trump’s backyard, we can win anywhere.” The victory marked the 29th seat that Democrats have flipped from Republican control since Trump took office, according to Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee president Heather Williams.
Trump had endorsed Gregory’s rival Jon Maples in a social media post, urging voters to turn out and saying Maples was backed “by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.” The district was previously considered safely Republican territory, making Gregory’s victory particularly significant for Democrats looking ahead to November’s midterm elections when control of Congress and many statehouses will be decided.
“If Mar-a-Lago is vulnerable, imagine what’s possible this November,” Williams said. She attributed the victory to economic concerns, stating, “Gas prices are spiking, grocery costs are up, and families can’t get by - it’s clear voters at the polls are fed up with Republicans.” Gregory, who grew up north of Palm Beach in Stuart and owns a fitness company that works with pregnant and postpartum women, said she was “pretty shocked” and “having a fairly out-of-body experience” after her victory.
Gregory said she will go to Tallahassee focused on proposals to limit insurance rate hikes, expand health care access and lift “huge, crushing burdens on the average Florida family.” She said she did not make her contest about the president specifically, instead concentrating on local economic issues that resonate with constituents in the Palm Beach area.
The victory continues a trend of Democratic success in Florida special elections, following Eileen Higgins’ December win in the Miami mayoral race, marking the first time a Democrat had led the city in nearly three decades. Higgins defeated a Trump-endorsed Republican in a campaign that leaned heavily into criticism of the president. Democrats are also monitoring results in a Tampa-area state senate race where Brian Nathan currently holds a narrow lead within the state’s automatic recount range, though The Associated Press has not yet called that contest.