Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a Florida state House district that includes Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate President Donald Trump claims as his residence, delivering a narrow upset in an area the President won by double digits less than two years ago.
Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples, who had been endorsed by Trump a day earlier. “Jon Maples has my complete and total endorsement!” Trump wrote in a social media post. “To all great patriots in Florida State House District 87th: get out and vote for Jon Maples.”
The special election was triggered after Republican Mike Caruso vacated the seat to become Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller. He had won the district by 19 percentage points in 2024.
Gregory secured the seat by a 2.4 percentage point margin, or 797 votes, winning 51.2% of the votes against Maples’ 48.8%.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said the result “reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida.”
“With year round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard,” she told TIME.
A spokesperson from Gregory’s team framed this election as an indication that voters in the district are “ready for a new direction for Florida, one that focuses on lowering costs and solving the everyday challenges families are facing.”
“People are feeling the pressure of rising insurance premiums, housing costs, groceries, and gas, and they want leaders who are focused on those issues instead of political distractions,” the spokesperson told TIME.
The win adds to a recent string of Democratic overperformances in special elections, following victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races in November.
It also comes as the war in Iran continues to escalate and Trump’s approval rating has slipped from 40% last week to 36%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll—the lowest of his presidency.
Democrats are framing Gregory’s victory as momentum ahead of November’s midterm elections.
“If Democrats can win in Trump’s backyard, we sure as hell can win anywhere across the country. Onward to November!” Democratic National Committee Chair Kevin Martin said.
Gregory said during a press briefing on Wednesday morning that she felt “honoured and humbled” by this victory in Florida.
“Not a lot of people thought this was possible, but myself and my family, we just believed we deserved better in our area,” she said. “We believed our community deserved a leader that was willing to go to Tallahassee and fight for them with no other agenda than to lower costs and to solve the issues in the affordability crisis that’s affecting all of us.”
Gregory is a first-time candidate
Gregory, a first-time candidate, previously worked as a small business owner and public health professional.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Wake Forest and Columbia University. She also led a Palm Beach-based fitness community for pregnant and postpartum women.
Married to Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Gregory, she has described herself as an “army wife,” and is a mother of three.
On the campaign trail, Gregory said she had been “noodling on it for some years now” before deciding to run, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd as key motivators.
“We’re a normal family, my husband, my three children. We work hard and we want the same things that the rest of our neighbours do,” Gregory said during the press briefing on Wednesday.
“I just wanted to see what it would be like, and if we could try a different voice, a voice that was willing to fight against special interests and to fight for Florida families, no matter what your family looks like, whether that’s a big extended family like mine or friends that are family.”
Gregory will have Trump as one of her constituents
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence falls within Florida’s state House District 87, now represented by Gregory, meaning she will serve as his representative in the Florida House of Representatives.
“I would always be open to having a conversation. I’m open to having a conversation with anyone about anything,” Gregory said when responding to a question by TIME in the briefing on Wednesday.
According to records, Trump voted by mail-in ballot in the special election. A day before the election he called mail-in voting “cheating” and has constantly pressed for the Senate to pass the SAVE America act, which would restrict mail-in ballots.
“My thoughts on my most famous constituent is that I will work as hard for every single one of the constituents in district 87 and not elevate anyone over the rest,” she said.
She framed her campaign as having focused on local issues rather than national politics.
“The things that work for all Florida families, lowering property insurance, expanding health care and strengthening our public schools, that is what I am focused on,” she said.
Gregory opposes mid-cycle redistricting in Florida
Gregory promised during the campaign to oppose any redistricting before the midterms this November.
“I’m opposed to any calls to redistrict before the midterms,” she told TIME. “This is a direct call from the President to gerrymander in favour of Republicans.”
Trump has pushed Republicans to redraw district maps to favor the party in various parts of the country, particularly red states like Indiana, Texas, and Florida.
“The overwhelming majority of Floridians made partisan gerrymandering illegal in 2010 with the Fair District’s amendment. So constitutionally, it’s illegal,” Gregory said.
“We know the voters don’t want this, and this is another example of the state legislature not listening to the people they represent, so I will do everything in my power to fight it. It’s a complete power grab for the midterms, or an attempt at one.”
Gregory and her family oppose the Iran war
While the state House doesn’t have any legislative power over foreign policy or the direction of the war in Iran, Gregory confirmed to TIME that she and her family opposed the conflict.
“We are opposed to forever wars, wars that have no justification that’s been given to the American people, cost a billion plus a day and impacts us personally,” she said.
Gregory told TIME that her husband, who was active in the U.S. army for many years, is currently part of reserves.
“We are concerned as we’re concerned for all of the troops in harm’s way, and we pray for all of the members of the armed forces and their families,” she added.
Gregory’s opposition as the U.S. has deployed thousands of Marines and several more battleships to the Middle East amidst fears of further escalation and potential boots on the ground in Iran.
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