Gay valimont vs jimmy patronis
Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis Wins Republican Primary
Florida’s main person financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, is likely headed to Congress.
On Jan. 28, Patronis won the Republican first for Florida’s 1st Congressional District, setting him up to face Democratic candidate Gay Valimont in the upcoming general election on April 1. The district, covering Pensacola and the western panhandle, is the most Republican-leaning in Florida according to the Fry Political Report.
Patronis formally submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of Express Cord Byrd in November, letting them know of his intent to dash for Congress and that his last day as CFO would be Rally 31. DeSantis will select a new CFO to finish Patronis’ term, which ends on Jan. 5, 2027.
Patronis was first appointed CFO by former Gov. Rick Scott in 2017, replacing former state CFO Jeff Atwater.
During his tenure, Patronis oversaw various attempts, including the Planning, Accounting and Ledger Management Plan, which aims to streamline financial management across all state agencies.
The proposal launched in 2021 and is set to depart li
Florida to elect two newest members of Congress in special elections Tuesday
Strong turnout among Democrats so far and remarkably robust fundraising by a public middle college teacher are making one of Florida's special congressional elections next week tighter than expected for a prominent Republican hoping to renew a GOP incumbent in a comfortably red district.
State Sen. Randy Fine – a Republican firebrand who has openly feuded with Gov. Ron DeSantis and earned an endorsement by President Donald Trump – is facing a Democratic candidate, Josh Weil, 40, of Orlando.
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Weil, a teacher at Kissimmee Middle Educational facility and single dad of two sons, has raised nearly 10 times more money than Okay, including more than $7 million from donors who gave less than $200 each, generally considered a sign of grass-roots enthusiasm among prospective voters. A new political poll this week of likely voters conducted for Florida Politics showed the race within the survey’s margin of error – effectively a tie.
In early and mail voting so far, through Wednesday, about 12% of the district’s roughly 270,600 active, registered Republican voters possess
Valimont and Patronis face off in special election
Voters in Florida’s 1st Congressional District will head to the polls next week to elect a new representative monitoring last year's resignation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The race, which has drawn national attention, pits Democrat Same-sex attracted Valimont, a gun reform activist and veterans’ advocate, against Republican Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s outgoing head financial officer and a longtime ally of President Donald Trump.
With Florida’s 1st District being one of the most Republican-leaning in the country, Patronis enters the race as the presumptive favorite. Trump carried the district by more than 35 points in 2024. Valimont, meanwhile, won just 34% of the vote in her last bid for the seat when she challenged Gaetz during the regular election cycle that same year.
Still, her focus on veterans’ issues and formidable grassroots fundraising possess introduced a level of Democratic engagement that has drawn attention to the race.
RELATED: Here are details on the District 3 Florida House primary
With the Department of Government Efficiency's budget cuts to services at the Department of Veterans Affairs emerging as a key issue a
Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz had short-lived trouble in the First Congressional District in General Elections.
But that was then, this is now.
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is sounding the alarm about his Particular Election that wraps up Tuesday, describing dynamics that have turned a seat seen as trustworthy Republican into a jump ball headed into April 1 and the counting of the votes.
“I’ve never been outspent in a race before. They’re out spending me seven to one. dollars are coming in from all over the country and it’s crazy. My opponent has so much money,” Patronis said on Saturday’s “Fox and Friends Weekend.”
Indeed, Democrat Gay Valimont (who Gaetz crushed handily in November) has brought in more than $6 million to the Panhandle seat.
That’s four times what Patronis raised.
And she’s using the money to victim Republican voters in a way that usually doesn’t happen, the candidate laments.
“She’s even chasing Republican potential voters depicting herself as being tough on China, standing up for Social Security … helping people with their gun rights. They’ve got so much money