Emily Gregory, a Democratic small business owner, won a special election Tuesday to represent Florida’s 87th House District, a seat that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago resort in Palm Beach County.
Her victory flipped a Republican‑held district that Trump carried by double digits in the 2024 presidential election, giving Democrats a rare win in one of the most symbolically charged districts in the state.
As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Gregory had just over 51% of the vote, compared with just under 49% for Republican Jon Maples, with more than 95% of ballots counted. CNN and Decision Desk HQ called the race around 7:40 p.m. ET.
Maples, a former local council member who was endorsed by Trump, was narrowly defeated in a race that drew national attention because of its location and timing amid a string of Democratic gains in special elections. The seat had been vacant since last year, when Mike Caruso left the Legislature to take a county post. Caruso won the seat by nine points in 2024.
The district overlaps with the congressional districts of Representatives Lois Frankel, a Democrat, and Brian Mast, a Republican.
Florida Democrat Emily Gregory: What to Know
Running for office for the first time, Gregory centered her campaign on rising costs of living, including housing, insurance and everyday expenses, rather than focusing heavily on Trump himself. She said her goal was to represent all voters in the district, even as national Democrats framed the race as a referendum on Republican strength in Trump’s backyard.
This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.
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