Democrat Wins GOP-Held Florida Seat That Includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a Republican-held Florida House seat in a March 24 special election in a district that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach. Gregory, a South Florida native with a background in public health, defeated Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples by 2.4 percentage points in the special election for a seat in Florida’s 87th District. The seat was previously held by Republican Mike Caruso, who resigned from the Florida House of Representatives in August 2025 after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him as Palm Beach County clerk. “This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: with year round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard,” Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried said in a statement celebrating Gregory’s victory....