Trump's Endorsement in Florida Special Election Sparks Residency Scrutiny
Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Republican candidate Jon Maples in a Florida House special election this month, aiming to prevent a Democrat from representing his home district. However, the endorsement comes amid questions about Maples' residency, as he recently moved his voter registration to a budget beach motel to comply with state law, despite owning a home outside the district.
Political Dynamics in a Trump-Won District
Trump secured House District 87 by an 11-point margin in 2024, but Democrats have been mobilizing strongly in recent low-turnout special elections nationwide, even in traditionally Republican areas. This includes the district encompassing Trump's official residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Democratic nominee Emily Gregory, a political newcomer, expressed optimism, citing that Democrats have returned more mail ballots than Republicans so far, despite being outnumbered in voter registration.
State Democrats believe Governor Ron DeSantis delayed calling the special election for two months after the vacancy, suspecting his party could lose the seat. A lawsuit filed by Gregory and the ACLU eventually forced the election to proceed. DeSantis' office did not respond to inquiries about the postponement.
Residency Issues and Trump's Early Backing
While Florida legislative races typically focus on local issues like property insurance and housing affordability, Trump has shifted attention to himself by endorsing Maples before January's primary. In his endorsement, Trump praised Maples as a "very successful Businessman and Civic Leader" supported by his Palm Beach County friends. However, at the time of the endorsement on January 6, Maples was not registered to vote in the district.
Maples, a 43-year-old former town council member from Lake Clarke Shores, owns a home with his wife that receives a homestead tax exemption, but it lies just outside the district boundary. His voter registration now lists a motel in Palm Beach Shores, 15 miles away, where he registered on January 12—too late to vote in the January 13 primary he won. The motel has poor online reviews, including complaints about infestations, but HuffPost could not verify these claims. Florida law requires candidates to reside in the district by Election Day, March 24, though it is unclear if Maples actually lives at the motel.
A prominent Florida Republican, speaking anonymously, stated that Maples is purchasing a home within the district, though public records do not yet show this. The source added that Trump endorsed Maples due to his role as a delegate at the 2024 RNC convention.
Campaign Strategies and Voter Sentiment
Emily Gregory, a 40-year-old exercise business owner catering to new mothers, has focused her campaign on cost-of-living issues, knocking on 1,000 doors to rally Democratic support. She has avoided campaigning at Mar-a-Lago, calling it "not a friendly door." The district leans Republican by about 10 percentage points in registration, but nearly a third of voters are independents, whom Gregory believes lean left in this area.
Trump, originally from New York City, has a history with Democratic lawmakers, having donated to them before his 2016 presidential run, which he claims was to influence their actions. With an expected turnout of around 20%, the race remains tight. As of Friday, Democratic voters had returned nearly 1,000 more mail ballots than Republicans, according to state tracking figures.
Impact of Trump's Endorsement and Future Outlook
The effectiveness of Trump's endorsement is uncertain, as Maples does not mention it on his website, and Trump's popularity has waned. Nikki Fried, the Democratic state party chair, remarked, "I think, in this moment, Trump's endorsement is Kryptonite." The residency issue has not yet become a major campaign topic, but Gregory joked that after the March 24 election, it won't matter because she plans to win, telling Maples, "he doesn't need to worry about it."
