Overview
- Emily Gregory won Florida House District 87, which includes Mar-a-Lago, by 797 votes, taking 51.2% to Republican Jon Maples’ 48.8% in a special election this week.
- The seat opened after Republican Mike Caruso left to become Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller, turning the race into a quick, lower-turnout contest.
- Trump endorsed Maples and, according to county records reported by multiple outlets, voted by mail despite pushing to restrict mail voting.
- Democrats cast the flip as part of a broader run of special-election gains — including Brian Nathan’s Tampa-area state Senate win — while House Speaker Mike Johnson said such races are one-off anomalies.
- Gregory, a first-time candidate and small-business owner, centered affordability, property insurance, health care, and schools, and she opposes mid-cycle map changes as Florida prepares an April 20–24 redistricting session.