Democrats flip Florida state seat in Trump's backyard

Democrats on Tuesday flipped a Republican-leaning Florida state House seat that encompasses President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, per AP . The big picture: Democrat Emily Gregory beat the Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples in a special election in the Palm Beach County-based district that the president won by 11 points. Trump voted for Maples by mail, despite repeatedly railing against mail-in voting . Zoom out: Republicans have been getting creamed in dozens of state legislative elections since Trump took office last year. Democratic candidates running for state legislative seats this year have outperformed 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris ' vote totals by nearly 11 points, according to The Downballot , a site that tracks congressional and state-level elections. The sluggish GOP voter turnout is deeply concerning Republican strategists ahead of the midterm elections . Reality check: Though Florida Republicans are disappointed by the outcome, they're still expressing confidence they'll keep the governorship and a U.S. Senate this in the fall midterms. Republicans have not lost a statewide race in Florida since 2018, and the party maintains control of the state legislature. What they're saying: "A slow-turnout state House special election is a snapshot of local quirks, candidate dynamics, and turnout math — not some grand verdict," said Republican National Committee Senior Adviser Danielle Alvarez Tuesday night. The other side: "Donald Trump's own neighbors just sent a crystal clear message: They are furious and ready for change," Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said in a Tuesday night statement. Marc Caputo contributed reporting.

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