Florida's Republican chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis has cruised to victory with the endorsement of President Donald Trump in a special election for the state's 1st Congressional District. Patronis fended off a challenge from Democrat Gay Valimont, despite the fact the GOP candidate was far outraised and outspent by the Democrat, who benefitted from the outrage of national donors alarmed by Trump's aggressive second term. Patronis will fill the northwest Florida seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was tapped to be Trump's attorney general, but dropped out amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
