SPECIAL ELECTION WATCH: Mar-a-Lago District Presents Next Flip Opportunity, Threatening “Brutal Wake-Up Call for Trump”

Democrats have flipped 28 seats since Trump’s election, and Florida’s HD-87 special election is the next race to watch this Tuesday WASHINGTON — Democrats are gearing up to carry our special election momentum to Trump’s own backyard in a must-watch special election next week in Florida’s HD-87 district. Home to Mar-a-Lago, the district is “primed to be flipped blue” and “threatens a brutal wake-up call for Trump.” Democrat Emily Gregory is a first-time candidate running against a Trump-endorsed candidate, and she’s centered her campaign on the affordability crisis and state housing issues. As DLCC President Heather Williams notes: “If I were Republicans, I’d be deeply concerned about this. We are winning in red communities, and we’re putting up a fight right in the president’s backyard.” Florida is on the DLCC’s expansive target map this November, as Democrats need to flip eight seats to break the House supermajority and three seats to break the Senate supermajority. Check out the coverage below:

Raw Story: Battle in Mar-a-Lago’s backyard threatens brutal wake-up call for Trump

“This is a stark reminder that Democrats are not just winning in blue states or even in competitive districts. We are winning in red communities, and we’re putting up a fight right in the president’s backyard,” Heather Williams, DLCC president, told Raw Story.

[Emily] Gregory said she’s campaigning on “pragmatic solutions” to address the affordability crisis and state housing issues. When she knocks on doors, Gregory said voters talk about skyrocketing property insurance rates, access to affordable health care and funding public schools.
The winner of the Florida House District 87 race will participate in Florida’s April special session on congressional redistricting, said Gregory, who is against mid-decade redistricting.

“If I were Republicans, I’d be deeply concerned about this,” [Williams said]. “Regardless of what the national narrative is like, Democrats can win elections, and we can win elections when we meet voters where they are and with a D behind our name.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) boasts 28 state-level flips so far – and none for Republicans — since Trump was elected.

Meidas Touch: Small Business Owner Emily Gregory Running to Flip Mar-a-Lago Blue

[Emily] Gregory is a small business owner who runs a fitness center for postpartum moms, a military spouse, and a mother of three boys who has never before run for office, yet her common sense approach to politics has earned her wide endorsements and high poll numbers. She is even pulling support among some Republican voters.
Her campaign is centered on the affordability crisis; bringing prices down and easing the burden on families in the state. She has also championed greater healthcare access, including fighting Florida’s six-week abortion ban, and increased public services for working families.

Aside from her win getting Democrats that much closer to breaking a Republican supermajority in the state house, the messaging victory that would result from flipping Mar-a-Lago blue cannot be overstated.

Her opponent, Jon Maples is endorsed by Donald Trump who has mentioned him in social media posts; the highest honor for a MAGA candidate. But beyond that he has been somewhat of a no-show on the campaign trail.

“It’s clear voters are blaming Republicans for raising costs and leaving families behind, and now even Mar-a-Lago is vulnerable territory,” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said in a statement. “Emily is exactly the kind of candidate who can defy the odds and connect with voters as a small business owner and mom, and this is exactly the kind of race the DLCC is targeting to change who is in power in this country.”

Politico: The local special election sparking intrigue in Donald Trump’s backyard

“Since the Republicans gained a supermajority four years ago, we have not seen any of the affordability crisis issues, any of the housing — anything that would bring real relief to Florida families,” [Emily Gregory] said. “And it feels like every session is more targeted on harming Florida families and vulnerable populations.”

In 2024, Trump won the district by more than 9 points. Yet Palm Beach County leans Democratic; it’s represented by Democrats Lois Frankel in the U.S. House and Lori Berman in the state Senate.

Leader-designate Christine Hunschofsky, said the lower chamber was “optimistic” about the election and praised Gregory as someone who understands voters “deserve a voice to provide practical solutions on the issues that matter.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) leads the national strategy to secure Democratic power in our state legislatures. We are the campaign arm for more than 3,000 state legislators and thousands of candidates across all 50 states who are advancing Democratic values and standing up to the dangerous MAGA agenda every single day. Over the last decade, our work has flipped 10 new chamber majorities. Those new majorities have ensured Democrats in state legislatures are positioned to protect our democracy and fundamental rights, while addressing the high cost of living and advancing opportunities. The DLCC’s national strategy and target map continue to pinpoint the most efficient paths to Democratic power across all 50 states.

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