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By Ewan Palmer
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A number of GOP figures are expressing concern ahead of upcoming special elections in Florida, despite both contests taking place in strong Republican districts.
Much of the apprehension, including from Governor Ron DeSantis, is focused on state Senator Randy Fine, who is running for Florida's 6th congressional seat which was vacated by former Representative Michael Waltz so he could become President Donald Trump's national security adviser.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk's super PAC is also paying attention to the Florida special elections, donating to Fine's campaign as well as that of Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the Republican candidate in the 1st Congressional District special election on April 1.
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Bryan Piligra, a spokesperson for Fine's campaign, told Newsweek that the Republican will be "victorious" on April 1.
Newsweek has also contacted the Patronis campaign team, the Florida GOP, and the Florida Democratic Party for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The results of the April 1 special elections could signal the level of support Trump and the GOP still maintain during the president's second term—and whether the Democratic Party has recovered from the crushing 2024 election defeats.
The outcomes could also have major implications for control of the House, where the GOP currently holds a narrow 218-213 majority.
What to Know
Fine, a Trump-endorsed firebrand state senator, is running against Democrat Josh Weil in Florida's 6th Congressional District.
The seat was previously held by Waltz, who won reelection in November 2024 by 33 points. Trump beat then-Vice President Kamala Harris by 30 points in the same district.
Fine is considered the frontrunner to retain the seat, but some GOP officials have expressed concern that he may underperform, especially as he has been significantly outraised by Weil.
Weil reported raising $10 million for his congressional bid, with Federal Election Commission filings showing nearly $8.9 million raised between January 9 and March 12.
By comparison, Fine raised less than $1 million between November 26 and March 3. Weil also has more than $1.2 million in cash on hand heading into the April 1 race, while Fine has just over $92,600.
North Carolina Representative Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told reporters on Monday that Fine "needs to do better" with fundraising. He also expressed concern that Fine did not begin airing television ads until last week. Weil has been running ads in Florida since early March, Punchbowl News reported.
Fine dismissed the concerns, telling Politico that his campaign is "going fine," adding, "I wish the Democrats weren't lighting $10 million on fire."
DeSantis said he expects Fine to win his race, though not by as large a margin as he should. DeSantis characterized any underperformance by Fine as a "candidate-specific issue," rather than a reflection of voter backlash against Trump or the GOP.
Steve Bannon, who served as White House chief strategist during Trump's first term, also voiced concern about Fine. On a recent episode of his War Room podcast, Bannon said it is an "issue" that Fine may not win the race.
A poll released Wednesday showed Fine with a 4-point lead over Weil. The Florida Politics survey, conducted by St. Pete Polls, of 403 likely voters in Florida's 6th District was conducted March 22 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
A super PAC linked to influential MAGA figure Musk has donated to both Fine's and Patronis' campaigns. A campaign finance report showed that America PAC donated more than $10,000 each for "texting services" to the Republican campaigns on March 25.
Jimmy Patronis is running in Florida's 1st Congressional District, which was vacated by Matt Gaetz when he was originally tapped to be Trump's pick for attorney general.
The district is another Republican stronghold, and Patronis is expected to defeat Democratic hopeful Gay Valimont, though the latter's campaign managed to bring in nearly $6.4 million from January 9 to March 12, well surpassing the Republican's $1.1 million during the same period.
While concerns about Patronis are not as prevalent as those surrounding Fine, the involvement of Musk's PAC in the 1st District race just days before the election could be considered a significant sign the GOP is hoping to ensure there are no shocks in the race.
What People Are Saying
Randy Fine campaign spokesperson Bryan Piligra told Newsweek: "The only thing that matters is making sure Republicans are united to defeat radical Democrats like Josh Weil who will stop at nothing to destroy President Trump. When Randy is victorious on April 1st it will be because of the strength of the Trump agenda and the faith the American people have in him. Randy is grateful for the President's unwavering confidence in him. The voters of CD 6 know they can count on Randy to fight fiercely alongside President Trump to Make America Great Again."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday: "If President Trump were on [Fine's] ballot in this special election, he would win by 30 points, no question. It's a candidate-specific issue. I think the district is so overwhelmingly Republican that it's almost impossible for someone with an 'R' by their name to lose that district. So I would anticipate a Republican candidate is still going to be successful. Do I think they will get even close to the margins that I received or the president received? No. It's a reflection of the candidate that's running in that race."
Representative Richard Hudson on Monday: "He needs to do better. But we're going to win that seat. I would have preferred if our candidate had raised money at a faster rate and gotten on TV quicker. But he's doing what he needs to do."
Steve Bannon on his War Room podcast: "What is it, Florida's 6th? Waltz's district. Trump won that district by 30 points in November. We have a candidate that I don't think is winning—that's an issue."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a Monday press conference: "These districts are so Republican, there would ordinarily be no reason to believe that the races will be close. But what I can say, almost guaranteed, is that the Democratic candidate in both of these Florida special elections will significantly overperform. This will represent another sign that the Republicans are on the run and that Democrats are going to take back control of the House of Representatives next year."
What Happens Next
Special elections in Florida's 1st and 6th congressional districts will take place on April 1.
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