Chicago – March 25, 2026
In a stunning special election upset, Democrat Emily Gregory has won Florida House District 87, flipping the Republican-held seat that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach County. Gregory, a small business owner and public health professional making her political debut, defeated Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples by a narrow margin of 51% to 48%, or about 797 votes.
The vacancy arose after GOP Rep. Mike Caruso resigned last August to become Palm Beach County clerk, a post appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis; Caruso had won the district by 19 points in 2024. Despite Trump’s strong backing for Maples and his own 10-point victory there last year, low-turnout special elections often hinge on local dynamics.
Florida Democrats hailed the win as momentum ahead of November midterms, with DNC Chair Ken Martin declaring, “If Democrats can win in Trump’s backyard, we can win anywhere.” Republicans dismissed it as not indicative of broader trends, preserving their state legislative supermajority.
