Rep. Matt Gaetz defeated his Republican primary opponent on Tuesday in one of Florida’s most conservative congressional districts, according to an Associated Press projection, handing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy a final blow to his so-called “revenge tour” against a handful of Republicans who helped oust him last year.
“Thank you FL-01. I will never stop fighting for you,” Gaetz posted on X shortly after the race was called.
Despite being outspent in the race — with a McCarthy-aligned group pouring $3 million into attack ads — Gaetz is projected to handily defeat former Navy pilot Aaron Dimmock, who he’d dismissed as a carpetbagger and criticized his previous work in diversity training.
Although Gaetz was the heavy favorite heading into Tuesday, he ramped up campaigning in recent weeks, holding a string of events across Florida’s 1st district, which featured several Republicans who had supported his effort to remove McCarthy from the speakership last year, including Arizona Rep. Eli Crane and Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett.
Gaetz is heavily favored win in November against Democrat Gay Valimont, given his district tends to support Republicans by more than a 2-1 ratio.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, attends a campaign event, Aug. 11, 2024, in Pensacola, Fla.
Brendan Farrington/AP
Gaetz’s win marks yet another defeat for McCarthy, who has looked to target the group of eight far-right members of Congress, led by Gaetz, who were instrumental in his removal as House Speaker, which led to weeks of chaos on Capitol Hill as Republican members scrambled to elect a new leader.
With Tuesday’s primary in the books, McCarthy’s efforts against his far-right rivals only resulted in one big win against the so-called “Gaetz eight,” helping defeat House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good in one of the most closely watched and expensive Republican primaries of the 2024 election cycle. Meanwhile, he failed to unseat any others, including South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, who won her primary decisively.
Gaetz’s for governor?
Tuesday’s primary victory will likely also fuel further speculation around Gaetz’s plans to run for governor of Florida in 2026, as Gov. Ron DeSantis will be term-limited from seeking re-election. Although the Florida congressman has consistently denied rumors that he is eyeing statewide office, some sources close to him suggest otherwise.
If Gaetz does decide to run, McCarthy’s revenge tour could continue. Allies of the former Speaker have already briefed donors on plans to continue targeting Gaetz if he pursues the governorship, sources tell ABC News. Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, a McCarthy-aligned group circulated a memo that suggested its efforts had damaged Gaetz’s chances of running for governor, pointing to polling data it had commissioned that showed Gaetz trailing in a prospective primary.
But those close to Gaetz told ABC News that the Florida congressman is likely to run for governor in 2026, and McCarthy’s efforts won’t deter him—in fact, they might even motivate him further.
“McCarthy did not do a single f—ing thing to dissuade Matt from running for governor,” a source close to Gaetz told ABC News. “If that was the effort, it’s been a piss-poor one.”
Still, Gaetz has publicly stated that he has no plans to run—at least not yet.
“I have no plans to run for governor. I like my job and I want to help President Trump in Washington,” Gaetz posted on X on Monday. “If those plans change, I hope I have opposition as incompetent as these dorks.”
In a closely watched House primary race in Florida, incumbent Rep. Matt Gaetz has emerged victorious despite facing significant financial support for his challenger from a group allied with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Gaetz, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, faced off against Navy veteran and business owner Greg Merk in the Republican primary for Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Merk received substantial financial backing from the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a super PAC closely aligned with McCarthy and House Republicans.
The CLF poured over $1 million into Merk’s campaign, funding attack ads and mailers that sought to paint Gaetz as out of touch with his constituents and too focused on national issues. Despite this onslaught of negative campaigning, Gaetz was able to secure a decisive victory, winning over 60% of the vote in the primary.
Gaetz’s victory is seen as a significant win for Trump loyalists and a blow to the establishment wing of the Republican Party. Gaetz, who has been a vocal critic of McCarthy and other GOP leaders, has positioned himself as a leading voice for the conservative grassroots movement within the party.
The outcome of this primary race underscores the ongoing power struggle within the Republican Party between the Trump-aligned faction and more traditional GOP leaders. Gaetz’s ability to overcome well-funded opposition from a group closely tied to McCarthy demonstrates his strong support among conservative voters in his district.
Moving forward, Gaetz’s victory in the primary sets the stage for what is expected to be a contentious general election campaign against Democratic challenger Phil Ehr. Ehr, a former Navy pilot and small business owner, has already begun attacking Gaetz on his record and ties to Trump.
As the November election approaches, all eyes will be on Florida’s 1st Congressional District as Gaetz seeks to defend his seat against a well-funded Democratic opponent. The outcome of this race will not only have implications for the future of the Republican Party but also for the broader political landscape in Florida and beyond.
