This special election was called to fill the vacancy left by Matt Gaetz (R), who resigned on November 13, 2024, after being nominated by President Trump for attorney general (though he later withdrew from consideration and declined to return to Congress) .
Key details:
- General Election Date: April 1, 2025
- Republican Primary: Held on January 28, 2025
- Democratic Primary: Canceled as only one candidate qualified
Candidates:
- Republican: Jimmy Patronis won the Republican primary. He currently serves as Florida's Chief Financial Officer and was endorsed by President Trump .
- Democrat: Gay Valimont is running unopposed. She previously challenged Gaetz in November 2024, receiving 34% of the vote .
District Information:
The 1st district encompasses the westernmost area of the Florida panhandle, including Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties, as well as about half of Walton County. It's considered a safely Republican district.
Voting Information:
- Early voting period: March 22-29, 2025 (with potentially up to 6 additional days offered by counties) .
- As of October 2024, the district had approximately 301,000 active registered Republicans and 117,000 active registered Democrats.