Democrat Emily Gregory won a March 24 special election for Florida House District 87 in Palm Beach County, defeating Republican Jon Maples 51.19% to 48.81% in a district that includes Mar-a-Lago, the residence of President Donald Trump. The vacancy was created when Republican Mike Caruso left the legislature to become Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
The March 24 special election in Palm Beach County’s Florida House District 87 was held to fill a vacancy after Republican Mike Caruso left the legislature to take the job of Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
According to unofficial election-night results linked by The Daily Wire to Florida’s election reporting system, Gregory received 51.19% of the vote to Maples’ 48.81% in the district, which includes Mar-a-Lago. County-level data cited in the same report showed Gregory running strongest in vote-by-mail totals, while Maples performed slightly better among early in-person voters.
Trump endorsed Maples the night before Election Day, posting on Truth Social: “There is a very important Special Election tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th, for Florida State House District 87 in beautiful Palm Beach County — JON MAPLES HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!” Trump added that Maples was “a very successful Businessman and Civic Leader.”
The Democratic National Committee sought to capitalize on the win in fundraising messages, describing the result as a “humiliating defeat” for Trump and arguing that voters were “furious with Trump and his cronies” over costs and health care.
Gregory campaigned as a moderate Democrat and, on her campaign website, called for increased government spending on affordable housing, health care and education.
Republicans, meanwhile, played down the political significance of the outcome, pointing to the dynamics of special elections and low participation. Republican National Committee senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said, “A low-turnout state House special election is a snapshot of local quirks, candidate dynamics, and turnout math — not some grand verdict.”
Despite the loss in District 87, Republicans still hold a large majority in the Florida House, 84 seats to Democrats’ 34, The Daily Wire reported.
In other Florida special elections held the same day, The Daily Wire reported that Republican Hilary Holley defeated Democrat Edwin Perez to keep a state House seat in Republican hands, while Democrat Brian Nathan narrowly defeated Republican Josie Tomkow in a state Senate contest.
