Rep. Matt Gaetz dominated his primary challenger Aaron Dimmock in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, winning by a decisive 45-point margin.
Dimmock, who received significant financial backing from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, failed to gain traction in the deep-red district. The race was seen as part of McCarthy’s attempt to strike back at Gaetz after he led the successful effort to oust McCarthy from the speakership in October 2023.
Gaetz didn’t hold back in his victory speech, mocking McCarthy’s spending on the race. “Kevin McCarthy spent $3 million in this race, and it didn’t even put a dent in our support,” Gaetz said. The congressman noted that he increased his share of the vote from 70% two years ago to 73% this time. “If he spends a little more next time, we might hit 80%,” Gaetz joked.
Dimmock’s campaign faced an uphill battle as Gaetz’s team highlighted his background in DEI initiatives and support for Black Lives Matter, branding him as out of touch with the district’s conservative values. The strategy worked, leaving Dimmock unable to gain momentum despite McCarthy’s backing.
The result underscores Gaetz’s dominance in his district and his firm hold on the America First agenda. It also signals that McCarthy’s efforts to target MAGA-aligned Republicans have largely fallen flat, further diminishing the influence of the former Speaker as he embarks on what many have called a “revenge tour” against those who ousted him.
