Democrat Emily Gregory projected to win Florida House seat representing Trump, Mar-a-Lago

Democratic candidate Emily Gregory is projected to win a special election on Tuesday evening for a Florida state House seat representing a Palm Beach County district whose residents include President Donald Trump.

Gregory’s projected victory over Jon Maples, the 43-year-old Republican endorsed by Trump, would flip the District 87 seat from GOP control.

The district includes Trump’s club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, where he holds residency.

Gregory, a 40-year-old small business owner, had not sought elected office before this year.

The special election was held to fill the seat previously held by Mike Caruso, a Republican who resigned in August to become Palm Beach County clerk.

Caruso, who won District 87 in the 2024 election by nearly 20 percentage points, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had unsuccessfully sought the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, which was won by Trump.

Trump had praised Maples at an event in Florida on Saturday, calling the candidate up on stage,

“I’m honored that the voters of District 87 have placed their trust in me,” Gregory, 40, said in a statement on Tuesday night.

“Tonight’s result sends a clear message that people want Florida to move in a new direction, one where leaders focus on lowering costs and standing up for working families,” Gregory said.

“Floridians are being squeezed by rising housing costs, insurance rates, and everyday expenses, and that’s what this campaign has always been about: making Florida more affordable and making sure our state works for the people who live here,” she said.

Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, told journalists from CNBC and MS Now this week that “we could win” the district seat.

“If we don’t win it it’s not going to be a surprise,” Williams said.

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