Can gay valimont win
Who is Gay Valimont? Democrat seeks to shock political world in April 1 special election
Gay Valimont is hoping to do something in the special election on April 1 that no Democrat has done in Northwest Florida in 33 years – prevail an election to Congress.
Valimont is the Democratic candidate in the special election to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz when he resigned as part of his failed bid to become U.S. Attorney General.
Valimont has touted unprecedented fundraising numbers for a Democratic candidate in the most conservative area of Florida thanks to national outcry from Democrats at the actions of President Donald Trump's new administration.
Who is Gay Valimont?
Valimont decided to enter the 2024 race against Matt Gaetz for Congress after the tragic loss of both her husband and her 9-year-old son just seven months apart. Her husband, Brian, was diagnosed with ALS, and her son, Eli, was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. Eli died in September 2021 at 9 years vintage, and Brian died in April 2022 at the age of 45.
Meet the Valimonts: ‘Take every moment and love each other’: Family shares lessons through ALS, tumor diagnosesValimont was born and raised in Tho
Gay Valimont tells supporters she's raised $6.7 million to flip Matt Gaetz seat blue
This story was updated with a new location for Valimont's March 20 town hall.
Gay Valimont announced her congressional campaign had raised $6.7 million as she aims to flip a deeply red seat blue in the particular election on April 1.
Valimont made the announcement on Friday, speaking to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 people at a town hall at the Pensacola Yacht Club.
“We have raised $6.7 million, and I used to hate it when I would go see a candidate speak, and they tell me how much money they raised,” Valimont said. “… And absolutely, I believe that cash should be out of politics, but Jimmy Patronis started this race with $10 million in his pocket, and we recognize that if he figures out that we're about to destroy him, he's going to spend that money. And it's pleasant because we're ready.”
Valimont is the Democratic Party nominee for Florida's 1st Congressional District seat and is facing Republican Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis in a special election on April 1 to fill the seat vacated by Matt Gaetz.
A Democrat has not won an election to the seat since 1992, but Valimont told supporters
Florida’s 1st Congressional District remains Florida’s most ruby red district, providing U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz a solid voter base. But Democratic challenger Gay Valimont said voters of all political stripes have reason to toss the four-term incumbent.
Marred by controversy and scandal while frequently irritating even Republican leaders in the House, Valimont said it’s a matter of moment before someone shows Gaetz the door out of the U.S. House. It may as well be his voters.
“If he wins, watch for him to be expelled in November or December sparking a Special Election,” Valimont said. “We are also prepared for that.”
Gaetz remains under investigation by the Dwelling Ethics Committee, whose leaders in June said they were looking into accusations of sexual misconduct, drug use and the potential granting of favors to romantic interests.
But Gaetz has been under scrutiny for personal accusations for a long time. Last year, federal prosecutors informed he would face no criminal charges related to a two-year sex trafficking research stemming from a probe of former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg’s litany of crimes. He scoffs at Valimont’s prediction of his
Democrats
April 1, 2025
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 substantial 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 express gratitude Gay Valimont for her leadership and for once again stepping up to run in a complicated district. Make no mistake: The momentum is on our side. Democrats possess 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 Same-sex attracted Valimont is the latest Democrat to overperform in a special election in 2025. Ea
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