GOP 'anxiety' persists ahead of Florida special elections in Trump territory

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

March 28, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT


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 on 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.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/gop-anxiety-persists-ahead-florida-special-elections-trump-territory-rcna198081

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They had "anxiety" about Carnival Cruz and that scum got re-elected inn 2024. Of course that was before any of the draconian crap going on now had started. The near-9% spread from Allred was a lot greater than 2018's race with O'Rourke (~2%) - obviously that case in TX.

This is FL and it will be interesting to see what happens. It's hard because special elections tend to always have lower turnouts than generals. The primary turnouts were abysmal (3% - 5% from on source) - but that was back in January. Any "close" race might be an indicator.

Right now, many MAGats are still being hard-headed and accepting the pain - i.e., "economic-wise" that is so touted by Democrats, in exchange for their intense desire at wiping out their "enemies" (the "evil" immigrants and minorities) and putting women BACK in "their place".

[sop]

1. "MAGats are still accepting the pain...in exchange for their intense desire at wiping out their 'enemies'

(the 'evil' immigrants and minorities) and putting women BACK in 'their place.'"

That's what I'm hearing. A couple of MAGA acquaintances told me they're ok with everything so long as Trump gets rid of all the (dark-skinned) immigrants and minorities. "Putting women back in their place" was left unsaid, but that's next on their wish list. These people are intensely single-minded when it comes to hate.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. It's the toxic overlay that obscures strategies to solve this nation's economic issues

where such has been magnified by the likes of Rogan, Maher, and yes even Jon Stewart - all who very clearly and adamantly "blame the victim" (Kamala Harris) for the Democratic party's losses without any self-reflection whatsoever.

[IronLionZion]

6. Cruelty is the point

MAGAts are owning themselves with Pyrrhic victories.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory

[Lonestarblue]

3. The spread between Cruz and Allred may have been manipulated.

There’s a reason the Texas Republicans took over the Harris County (Houston) election management the year before the election by passing a special law that applied only to that county giving them the right to fire the Democratic leaders. As the largest Democratic population in Texas, Harris County votes needed to be manipulated for Cruz. For example, how many new Democratic voter registrations were ignored until after the election? How many Democratic votes were tossed out for “irregularities”? How many mail ballots were conveniently not delivered on time or were delivered but not discovered until after results were certified? Republicans have dozens of nasty tricks to win elections.

[MissMillie]

4. What you say about Cruz is true

But here's hoping that the sample of Felon 2.0 has given the voters a different perspective.

I know it's only been 2 months, but it's been a VERY sucky 2 months.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Since TX used to be part of Mexico

easily 1/2 of the surnames of the residents are Hispanic. Taken out to its fullest extent, they would eventually cannibalize much of the population of the state just based on "surname" and "looks".

[Deminpenn]

7. Rs had a huge RV advantage in PA SD36, 98k to 55k

yet lost in a relatively low turnout (28%) election. I think the GOP is not only losing more than the usual cross-party voters, but IND/NPA voters, too.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. In PA's case, It looked to be coming from the 'burbs north of Lancaster City

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20177480



(The city of Lancaster itself is actually in the 13th state Senatorial District -)



(ETA as FYI - in 2022, Democrats picked up a state House seat associated with Lancaster City)

It confirmed my wondering about places like Lititz, home to some big pharma (J&J is out there as was Warner-Lambert before Pfizer bought them).

[Deminpenn]

9. Looking at the final results by precinct,

turnout in East Petersburg, East Hempfield, Manheim Twp, Warwick and Litiz precincts all came in above the 28% turnout average.

[ificandream]

10. Hopefully, the Repugs haven't fixed this election.

We'll know from the level of whining after it's over.