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By Jordan King
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Democrat Emily Gregory has said she does not "think all of that much" about President Donald Trump being one of her constituents after she won a special election to represent District 87 in the Florida House on Tuesday.
"I mean I don't think all of that much about it right, he's one of 115,000 registered voters in District 87," she told CNN.
Gregory flipped the Republican-held Palm Beach County district, where Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort is located.
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Why It Matters
Gregory's win gives Democrats a symbolic breakthrough in a district that Trump carried in 2024 and where Republicans have dominated state politics, even though the result will not alter control of Florida's GOP-led Legislature
The upset also comes amid a series of special election gains for the Democrats, which they have highlighted as momentum heading into the 2026 midterms. Republicans have dismissed that a "Democratic wave" is occurring.
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What To Know
With nearly all votes counted, Gregory led Republican Jon Maples by 797 votes, roughly 2.4 to 2.5 percentage points, on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.
Maples is a former local council member and financial adviser, who was endorsed by Trump.
The seat became vacant after Republican Mike Caruso left the legislature to become Palm Beach County's clerk of courts and comptroller, following a 19-point Republican victory in the district in 2024.
District 87 covers coastal and inland communities including Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Juno Beach, among others.
What People Are Saying
Gregory said: "My opponent made him [Trump] forefront in his campaign and I focused more on the voters in District 87—what everybody needs, what all of us will do better with, with lower property insurance, with expanded health care and with strong public schools."
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday: "There is a very important Special Election tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th, for Florida State House District 87 in beautiful Palm Beach County — JON MAPLES HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!
"Jon is a very successful Businessman and Civic Leader, who is known and loved, and also endorsed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends, including by Great State Representative 'MAGA' Meg Weinberger. Jon will be a terrific Legislator! As your next State Representative, Jon will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Stop Migrant Crime, Safeguard our Elections, Support our Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.
"TO ALL GREAT PATRIOTS IN FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 87: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR JON MAPLES! Polls are open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. JON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"
What Happens Next
Gregory will join the Florida House in a GOP-dominated legislature and is expected to prioritize affordability issues, including insurance, health care and public schools, according to her campaign.
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