Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis will be the Republican nominee in a Special Election to replace U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz. The Panama City Republican emerged as the top vote-getter in a 10-candidate field running in a Special Primary held Tuesday in Florida’s 1st Congressional District.

Update: Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine swept their respective primaries in congressional special elections. Patronis had 65.6% of the vote in CD 1 with 65% of the vote counted. There was no Democratic primary so Patronis will face Gay Valimont.

A dispute between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican leaders of the Legislature over conflicting views of an immigration crackdown escalated Monday after the governor labeled as “bizarre” lawmakers’ proposal to strip him of immigration enforcement powers.

With the backing of President Donald Trump, state Sen. Randy Fine and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday won special Republican primary elections for congressional seats.

Patronis has the Trump endorsement, boasts the best name recognition in the district, and went into the stretch run of the Primary race best positioned financially, with almost $711,000 cash on hand as of Jan. 8. To put that in perspective, no other candidate in the crowded field had more than $33,000 for the stretch run.

Two Trump-endorsed candidates won Republican primaries for special House elections in Florida on Tuesday night.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties for the special primary election. Ten Republican candidates are on the ballot to fill the vacant Florida District 1 seat in Congress formerly held by Matt Gaetz.

Ron DeSantis surprised legislative leaders by ... And with Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis running for the U.S. House seat vacated by Matt Gaetz, there’ll be another Cabinet post to ...

The wins put MAGA loyalists Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine on glide paths to Congress when they take on little-known Democratic opponents in special general elections on April 1.

Trump-endorsed candidates Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine won the Republican primaries to replace former Florida Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, signaling strong conservative holds on these districts.

Republican voters in several Florida counties head to the polls on Tuesday, where they will select GOP nominees to fill seats that were held by former Reps. Michael Waltz and Matt Gaetz.