Following tonight’s election results in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, where Democratic Gay Valimont had the best performance from a Democrat in Florida’s 1st Congressional District this century, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Congratulations to Gay Valimont on running a strong campaign that will make a difference for Florida’s 1st Congressional District for years to come. Her massive overperformance in a Trump +37 district is the best performance for Democrats in the district this century and spells trouble for Republicans everywhere. Valimont made critical inroads in this deeply red district and showed Republicans that, even in a place Trump won by nearly 40 points, this seat would not be handed to them. I thank Gay Valimont for her leadership and for once again stepping up to run in a difficult district. Make no mistake: The momentum is on our side. Democrats have overperformed in 15 out of 16 special elections this year. Democrats are going to keep winning races and – ultimately – take back the House next year.” 

Democrat Gay Valimont is the latest Democrat to overperform in a special election in 2025. Earlier this year, Democrats maintained control of the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate. In Iowa, Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped a district Trump won by 21 points, overperforming the top of the November ticket by 14 points, while Democrat Nannette Griffin overperformed by 24 points. In March, Minnesota Dems held the Minnesota Senate and won a House seat. Last week in Pennsylvania, Democrat James Malone claimed an upset victory in a R+23 state Senate district.

All of these elections, including tonight’s in Florida, spell major trouble for Trump and Republicans. Retaining a district Trump won by nearly 40 points in 2024 put local and national Republicans in a tailspin because of Trump’s deeply unpopular attacks on working families. 

In the weeks and months ahead, Democrats will continue to organize and uplift the organic anger of voters across this country as we stand up to Republican attacks and prepare for critical electoral fights ahead.