Valimont draws attention and donations, but Patronis still has advantage in April 1 election
Jim Little
Pensacola News Journal
Republican Jimmy Patronis is having to do something that Matt Gaetz almost never had to do as he campaigns to fill Gaetz’s vacant seat in Congress ahead of the April 1 special – spend money on advertising in a general election.
Democrat Gay Valimont told supporters last week she’s raised $6.7 million to campaign in the seat that has elected a Republican in every election since 1994, and she’s putting that money to use with a blitz of ads on television, billboards and social media.
Patronis has hit back with his own ads, and it’s not hard to find digital billboards around Pensacola with photos of Patronis and President Donald Trump advertising Patronis as “Trump’s pick” for Congress.
snip
No matter the outcome, Valimont has done something no Democrat has been able to do for several election cycles: force the Republican to spend money in the general election campaign.
https://www.pnj.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/03/21/special-election-florida-first-congressional-district-set-for-april-1/82501774007/
A New Voice for Florida
https://gayforcongress.com/
https://gayforcongress.com/issues