(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
OAN Staff Lillian Mann
2:43 PM – Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Democrats aim to flip Florida’s House District 87 in a special election, which includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
Prior to the polls opening on Tuesday morning, President Trump encouraged Florida voters in Palm Beach County to cast their ballots in the special election that includes his oceanfront Mar-a-Lago estate, encouraging “all great patriots” in the district to vote.
The high stakes race aims to fill the legislative seat that has continued to be vacant since August, due to the resignation of Republican Mike Caruso (R-Fla.).
The race is being viewed as a “micro-test” of Trump’s political influence in the area ahead of the 2026 midterms and shows a dramatic increase in spending, with total expenditures surpassing $1 million.
Against the backdrop of great economic anxieties in the Palm Beach County district- which runs up against the coast through Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno beach and Hypoluxo – Trump stressed the urgency of the election, stating it was “very important.”
Trump endorsed Jon Maples, a 43-year-old financial planner and former Lake Clarke Shores council member, who has run a campaign closely aligned with Republican priorities at both the state and national levels.
Trump described Maples as “known and loved” in Palm Beach County and he has the support of several allies in the area. His campaign focuses on cutting taxes and government spending, reducing regulations, promoting private-sector job growth and expanding school choice policies.
Gregory, a 40-year-old small business owner and first-time candidate, has framed her campaign around public-school funding, health care access and other economic pressures for local families in the area.
The Democrat’s campaign focuses on issues like insurance premiums, property taxes and broader cost-of-living pressures that have caused energy prices to climb.
On Trump’s involvement in the election Gregory stated, “It’s impacted people’s interest in talking to me about it. He is a constituent. But I am more focused on all 115,000 voters in District 87, not just the one.”
“We’ve knocked all of the doors, we’ve made all of the calls. I’m really proud of the campaign we ran. I think it’s going to be close, and I think we’re going to come out on the right side of it,” Gregory added.
“We’re now gearing up to carry our momentum to Trump’s own backyard as Emily Gregory mounts a strong campaign to flip Mar-a-Lago blue. It’s a tough district that Trump won by 11 points, but we know voters are fired up to hold Republicans accountable for soaring costs,” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) President Heather Williams told Newsweek.
In a Truth Social post, Trump guided voters to a campaign website to find polling locations, and promised that Maples “will never let you down.”
“As your next State Representative, Jon will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Stop Migrant Crime, Safeguard our Elections, Support our Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote.
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