Democrat Emily Gregory wins Florida special state House seat in Mar-a-Lago district.

Democrat Emily Gregory secured a narrow but significant victory in the March 24, 2026 special election for Florida State House District 87, flipping a Republican-held seat that includes President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

“Gregory grew up north of Palm Beach in Stuart”

Associated Press News

Gregory received 17,047 votes (51.15%) compared to Republican Jon Maples' 16,281 votes (48.85%), with a total of 33,328 votes counted in the final tally.

Associated Press News

The race represented a dramatic political shift, as the district had been won by Republican Mike Caruso by a 19-point margin in 2024, meaning Gregory achieved an approximately 11-point swing to the left.

This high-stakes contest drew national attention as a critical test of political momentum in Florida, particularly given its location in Trump's own backyard and the district's significance as a political bellwether.

Gregory, a 40-year-old South Florida native running for office for the first time, emerged as a compelling Democratic candidate with a background in public health and small business ownership.

She grew up in Stuart and currently operates a Jupiter-based fitness center specializing in services for pregnant and postpartum women, called FIT4MOM Palm Beach.

BBC

Gregory holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science from Wake Forest University and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University.

Her personal story as an Army spouse added to her relatable image, while her opponent Jon Maples, a former council member in Lake Clarke Shores, benefited from Trump's high-profile endorsement, which the president described as 'MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!' in a social media post.

Notably, Trump himself voted by mail in the election despite his frequent criticism of mail-in voting as 'fraud' and 'postal corruption.'

Gregory's campaign strategically focused on economic affordability issues that resonated with voters in the district, particularly rising gas prices, grocery costs, healthcare expenses, and property insurance rates.

“- Published Democrats are projected to win a special election for a Florida legislative district that includes Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, marking another upset in the president's backyard”

BBC

She drew sharp distinctions with Republicans on tax policy, opposing efforts to eliminate property taxes which she argued would shift the burden onto renters through higher sales taxes and local fees.

Gregory also criticized the GOP-led Legislature's focus on curbing diversity, equity and inclusion programs, arguing that such efforts distracted from more pressing economic challenges facing residents.

Her campaign reported raising about $176,000 directly, supplemented by roughly $82,000 in in-kind support, with total fundraising reaching approximately $325,000 with additional help from a political committee.

In contrast, Maples emphasized his business experience and pledged to cut taxes, though the contest grew contentious in the final days with both sides engaging in negative mailers and text messages.

Democratic leaders immediately celebrated Gregory's victory as another significant sign of voter dissatisfaction with Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The win marked the 29th state legislative seat that Democrats have flipped from Republican control since Trump took office again in 2025, during which Republicans have not flipped any Democratic-held seats.

CBS News

National figures including Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams, and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried all weighed in with celebratory statements.

Williams notably declared, 'Mar-a-Lago just flipped red to blue, which should have Republicans sweating the midterms,' while Martin emphasized that 'Donald Trump's own neighbors just sent a crystal clear message: They are furious and ready for change.'

The district's significance was amplified by the fact that Mar-a-Lago has been the site of major national decisions during Trump's second term, including the direction of six major military actions.

The election occurred in the context of relatively low voter turnout, with approximately 15% of eligible voters casting ballots.

“Democratic candidate Emily Gregory is projected to win a special election on Tuesday evening for a Florida state House seat representing a Palm Beach County district whose residents include President Donald Trump”

CNBC

According to Palm Beach County election officials, about 4,400 voters participated in early voting while roughly 13,000 submitted ballots by mail.

CNBC

Breaking down the early vote by party affiliation showed Democratic voters had cast 7,457 ballots, Republicans about 7,176, and voters with no party affiliation more than 2,802.

This Gregory victory continues a pattern of Democratic overperformance in special elections since Trump's return to the White House, and it mirrors other recent wins in Republican-controlled Florida, such as Democrat Eileen Higgins' election as Miami mayor in December 2025—the first time a Democrat had held that office in nearly three decades.

Political observers like Dr. Susan MacManus, a USF professor emerita, suggested that while the win wouldn't shift the balance of power in the state's Republican-dominated legislature, it would provide 'a monumental infusion of energy and momentum for Democrats in Florida.'