ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) ā€” RepublicansĀ Jimmy PatronisĀ andĀ Randy FineĀ won special elections Tuesday in two Florida congressional districts, bolstered by President Donald Trumpā€™s endorsement to fill vacant seats in reliably Republican strongholds.

Patronis, the stateā€™s chief financial officer, fended off a challenge from Democrat Gay Valimont even though sheĀ far outraised and outspentĀ him. He will fill the northwest Florida 1st District seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was chosen to be Trumpā€™sĀ attorney generalĀ but withdrew from consideration amidĀ allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.

      • jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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        3 days ago

        Surprising the Democrats that the Republicans won. In Republican districts. In Florida.

        Not surprising anyone else.

        Up until these special elections the Democrats were all about ā€œThree seats! We only have to flip THREE!ā€

        • dcpDarkMatter@kbin.earth
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          2 days ago

          None of the left-leaning pollsters I heard ever thought that these seats would flip. They were more interested in the margins.

          And 30% to 15% is quite significant.

        • GreyAlien@lemm.eeOP
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          2 days ago

          I should have added an /s.

          It was a bad joke, as in democrats are yet to do any meaningful work to prevent the overthrow of the government, they are kind of invisible and passive in regards to all the mischief and crimes committed by the current administration.

          I agreed with your statement.