Democrat Emily Gregory defeats Republican Jon Maples in Florida District 87 special election
Emily Gregory flipped House District 87 in Palm Beach County blue in an upset victory. It marks the first time a Democrat has won there this century.Gregory won 51.15% of the vote Tuesday to Republican Jon Maples’ 48.85% in a race where controversies arose for both candidates in the leadup to Election Day. Democrats smaered him on a residence issue.
She fills a seat Republican Mike Caruso left vacant in August, when he left for an appointed job as Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller.
Jon Maples, a 43-year-old financial planner and former Lake Clarke Shores Council member who was an All-American athlete at Palm Beach Atlantic University, ran a campaign closely aligned with Republican priorities at both the state and national levels.
He leaned on his local government experience and community involvement, including leadership roles with Families First of Palm Beach County and other civic organizations. His platform focused on cutting taxes and government spending, reducing regulatory burdens, expanding private-sector job growth and advancing school choice policies.
He also embraced a broader GOP push to eliminate or significantly reduce property taxes and sought to draw contrasts with Gregory on education policy, particularly around teachers’ unions. [Florida Politics]
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