Well folks, here we are again. Another election cycle in Florida, another harsh wake-up call for the Democratic Party—and this time, it came wrapped in double-digit losses despite outspending their GOP opponents. In two hotly contested special elections, the results were clear: Florida isn’t just red—it’s crimson, and Democrats are still searching for the map out of the wilderness.
Let’s break this down.
Two congressional seats were up for grabs, both previously held by Trump allies—Michael Waltz and Matt Gaetz—who stepped away to join the Trump administration or ride off into whatever MAGA sunset they’ve charted. That left openings in Florida’s 1st and 6th Districts. Democrats pounced, wallets open, with polished candidates and national support.
But the results? Randy Fine took the 6th by 14 points. Jimmy Patronis kept the 1st by the same margin.
🚨 Daily Caller News Foundation Reporter @AndiNapier: "Democrats massively out funded...Republicans in these Florida House races, but still lost by double digits in both of the congressional districts. What's your takeaway from these races?"
JEFFRIES: "Um... I mean... Donald… pic.twitter.com/UP4buLPzlI
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 2, 2025
Now, if you’re a Republican strategist, sure—you didn’t hit Trump-level landslides of 30 and 37 points in those districts. But a win is a win. And the fact that Democrats threw everything but the kitchen sink at these races and still came up short, by double digits, tells us more than the left wants to admit.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tried to spin it as a kind of moral victory. His line? “Why were they even competitive?” He pointed out that the Democrats outperformed Biden and even Trump-era expectations in these districts. Okay, that’s fair on paper—but this wasn’t a game of margins. It was a game of winning. And the Democrats still got beat. By a lot.
Let’s not forget: special elections are notorious for low turnout. These races should have been the left’s chance to catch Republicans sleeping. Instead, they found a GOP machine still humming from DeSantis’ dominance and Trump’s gravitational pull on Florida politics. If Democrats can’t pull off a win with high enthusiasm, an open seat, and financial advantage? That’s not a good omen for 2026.
Scott Jennings bringing some much needed perspective to CNN's Election Night coverage.
"What did we find out tonight? Republicans are okay in their Florida districts and Voter ID is still a popular thing." pic.twitter.com/H2LQtTDuB4
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) April 2, 2025
Make no mistake—Florida has shifted. It's not a battleground anymore. It's a conservative fortress fortified by years of methodical ground game, economic messaging that resonates, and a cultural pushback against the progressive playbook. Democrats are discovering, again and again, that hashtags and ad buys don’t beat door-knocking and clear, consistent policy signals.