Democrat Flips Florida House Seat in District Including Mar-a-Lago
Democrat Emily Gregory won a special election on Tuesday for a Florida state House seat representing a Palm Beach County district that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, flipping the seat from Republican control. The victory is being viewed by Democrats as a potential bellwether for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
With over 95% of votes counted as of 9 p.m. ET, Gregory led Republican candidate Jon Maples by a margin of 51.2% to 48.8% according to CNBC.
Trump’s Endorsement Fails to Secure Victory
The election outcome is notable as President Trump had publicly endorsed Maples, holding an event in Florida on Saturday where he brought the candidate on stage as reported by CNBC. Despite this support, and the fact that Trump himself voted in the election via mail-in ballot according to CBS News, Gregory secured the win.
A Shift in a Traditionally Republican District
The House District 87 was previously held by Republican Mike Caruso, who resigned in August to become Palm Beach County clerk. Caruso won the district by nearly 20 percentage points in the 2024 election as reported by the Associated Press. This makes Gregory’s victory a significant flip in a district that traditionally leans Republican.
Democratic Momentum Ahead of Midterms
Democrats are celebrating the win as a sign of growing momentum ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Since President Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, 29 state legislative seats previously held by Republicans have been flipped to Democratic control according to CNBC.
Ken Martin, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, stated on social media, “If Democrats can win in Trump’s backyard, we sure as hell can win anywhere across the country. Onward to November!” as reported by CNBC.
Heather Williams, President of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, added, “Mar-a-Lago just flipped red to blue, which should have Republicans sweating the midterms.” according to CNBC
Gregory’s Focus on Local Issues
Emily Gregory, a first-time lawmaker and small business owner, focused her campaign on issues impacting Florida families, such as affordability and the rising cost of living as reported by The Independent. She stated she concentrated on “kitchen table issues” rather than focusing on President Trump, noting that voters are concerned about the “affordability crisis” and rising costs of gas and groceries according to The Independent.
“Tonight’s result sends a clear message that people want Florida to move in a new direction, one where leaders focus on lowering costs and standing up for working families,” Gregory said in a statement as reported by CNBC.