Republicans are looking to add two more seats to their House majority after special elections in Florida next week, giving GOP leaders a little more breathing room in a tightly divided legislative chamber. But they might be holding their breath until the polls close Tuesday.
Voters will cast their ballots next week in Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts, two deep-red seats that President Donald Trump won easily in November. While Republicans are still expecting to win both races, they are more competitive thanks to a wave of Democratic money and early votes.
Republicans are wary that closer-than-expected contests could fuel a narrative that voters are reacting negatively to the Trump presidency and that Democrats have the momentum heading into next year’s midterm elections.
Trump himself has made it clear that the stakes are high.
“Your vote in this crucial election will help determine whether the radical left will grind Congress to a halt, which is what they want to do — just stop everything, all the progress that we’ve made, which is record-setting,” Trump said at a tele-town hall Thursday night for Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who is running to replace former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz in the 1st District on the Florida Panhandle.
Trump also held a tele-town hall with state Sen. Randy Fine, who is running in the 6th District on the state’s eastern coast to replace former GOP Rep. Michael Waltz, who is now Trump’s national security adviser.
Fine declined to comment on his race, but Patronis said in a Wednesday interview that Trump is “laser-focused” on winning these special elections, noting that he spoke with Trump on Monday and gave the president an update on his campaign.
“The guy is a winner and he likes to win big. He likes to win confidently,” Patronis said, later adding, “The last thing I’m gonna do is let him down, so I’m gonna work as hard as I possibly can.”