Democrat captures seat in Trump's Mar-a-Lago district
Mar 26, 2026
Tallahassee [US], March 26: Democratic candidate Emily Gregory is projected to win a special election for a Florida state House of Representatives seat that includes United States President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, in the latest sign of strain for Trump's Republican Party.
With almost all votes counted from the Tuesday election, Gregory led her Trump-endorsed opponent Jon Maples by 2.4 percentage points, reported the AP news agency.
Democrats hailed the victory in the previously Republican-controlled House District 87 as a sign voters are turning against Republicans and Trump before November's midterm elections. Democrats registered electoral gains in the November 2025 gubernatorial and mayoral elections, with the cost of living cited as a major issue on people's minds.
The US decision to join Israel in attacking Iran has driven up oil and gas prices, putting further inflationary pressures on Americans.
"If Mar-a-Lago is vulnerable, imagine what's possible this November," said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. She said Tuesday's race was the 29th seat that Democrats have flipped from Republican control since Trump took office.
"Gas prices are spiking, grocery costs are up, and families can't get by - it's clear voters at the polls are fed up with Republicans," Williams said.
Gregory grew up north of Palm Beach in Stuart. She's the owner of a fitness company that works with pregnant and postpartum women, and she has never run for elected office before.
Source: Qatar Tribune
