President Trump re-upped his endorsement of two Florida officials, state Sen. Randy Fine and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, ahead of special elections to fill seats after the president poached the lawmakers in them.
Tuesday’s balloting comes at a critical time for House Republicans as they aim to ram the president’s agenda through Congress alongside the Senate GOP.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, has avoided any legislative stumbles borne from his razor-thin margin in the lower chamber, and gaining the seats that were left vacant by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and former Rep. Matt Gaetz will give him a cushion.
Mr. Trump’s move to lift Mr. Fine and Mr. Pratonis in comfortably red districts comes as their Democratic challengers vastly outraise them, and national Democrats are salivating at the chance to make either race close.
Mr. Fine, who is running in Florida’s 6th Congressional District to fill Mr. Waltz’s seat, was hand-picked by the president to run for a seat that the GOP carried by over 30 points in 2024. The president touted Mr. Fine’s background in business and in the Florida Legislature, where he has been “a tremendous Voice for MAGA.”
“In Congress, Randy will be an incredible fighter, who will work tirelessly with me to Strengthen our Economy, Lower Taxes, Secure the Border, Champion our Military/Vets, Ensure American Energy DOMINANCE, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Advance PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Mr. Trump posted on social media.
Mr. Fine’s opponent, Democratic candidate Josh Weil, has vastly outraised the GOP nominee — collecting $9 million to Mr. Fine’s $560,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
On top of that, Mr. Weil has the backing of Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent, and is getting campaign help this weekend in Northeast Florida from Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.
Mr. Patronis is running to replace Mr. Gaetz after the longtime Panhandle congressman was tapped and subsequently pulled his name from consideration to be attorney general. Mr. Gaetz similarly crushed his opponent, Democratic candidate Gay Valimont by over 30 points in the 1st Congressional District last fall.
Like Mr. Fine, Mr. Patronis was selected by Mr. Trump to run for the seat, but had to clamber over a pile of other Republicans to score the nomination.
“As your next Congressman, Jimmy will fight hard alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Brave Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Mr. Trump said.
Ms. Valimont is again running for the seat and, like Mr. Weil, has the fundraising edge — $6 million versus Mr. Patronis’s $1 million.
Mr. Patronis sounded the alarm during Saturday’s “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
“I’ve never been outspent in a race before,” he said. “They’re outspending me seven to one. Dollars are coming in from all over the country, and it’s crazy. My opponent has so much money.”
