President-elect Trump’s recent appointments of several House Republicans to key positions have triggered a new series of special elections for next year to fill the vacated seats. Among those chosen are Reps. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who will serve as his national security adviser and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, respectively.
Additionally, Trump nominated former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general; however, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration due to concerns regarding Senate approval. Despite his nomination, Gaetz has opted not to return to Congress.
Stefanik’s nomination to the U.N. creates a competitive landscape for New York’s 21st District
Here’s an overview of the upcoming special elections related to these outgoing or former lawmakers. Trump’s initial selection of Gaetz for attorney general raised immediate doubts about his ability to secure the necessary Senate votes for confirmation.
The House Ethics Committee has been investigating Gaetz for allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, although he denies any wrongdoing. His office announced last year that a separate investigation into sex trafficking by the Justice Department resulted in no charges against him.
Following Trump’s announcement, Gaetz resigned from the House in anticipation of the nomination, but Senate Republicans indicated they were skeptical about his chances for confirmation, with some wanting to see the Ethics Committee’s findings regarding him.
Eventually, Gaetz withdrew from consideration, reaffirming his decision not to return to Congress, leaving his seat in Florida’s 1st Congressional District open. This district, located in the northwestern part of Florida, encompasses all of Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Escambia counties, as well as portions of Walton County.
The state has scheduled the special election to fill Gaetz’s position, with the primary on January 28 and the general election on April 1. Several GOP candidates are vying for the seat, including former Navy and Air Force pilot Greg Merk, state Rep. Joel Rudman, former Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino, business owner Bernadette Pittman, management consultant and fighter pilot Jeff Witt, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, epidemiologist Uloma Ekpete Kama, and teacher Kevin Gaffney.
Trump has already endorsed Patronis in this primary. While several Democrats are also in the race, the district is predominantly Republican. Waltz is expected to resign from Congress on January 20 after being appointed as Trump’s national security adviser, a role that does not require Senate confirmation.
He represents Florida’s 6th Congressional District, which lies between Jacksonville and Orlando, including Palm Coast and Daytona Beach. The primary for Waltz’s replacement will coincide with Gaetz’s on January 28, and the special general election will also be held on April 1. Trump has endorsed Florida state Sen. Randy Fine (R) for this district, which is similarly solidly Republican, prompting some potential candidates to withdraw from the race.
Fine, a former ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), gained attention last year when he shifted his endorsement in the GOP presidential primary from DeSantis to Trump, arguing that DeSantis had not sufficiently addressed antisemitism. The DeSantis campaign condemned this switch as “shameful political theater,” asserting that DeSantis has always taken a strong stance in defense of Israel. Ultimately, DeSantis lost to Trump in the GOP contest.
Trump’s nomination of Stefanik for the U.N. ambassador position has created a vacancy in New York’s 21st Congressional District, which is located at the northern tip of the state and borders Canada and Vermont. A staunch Trump supporter, Stefanik gained prominence last year by questioning university presidents about antisemitism on campuses during a House hearing, receiving accolades from both political parties.
Stefanik has not yet resigned or publicly indicated when she plans to step down. Her new role will require Senate confirmation. Potential candidates to fill her seat include Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), who lost reelection in New York’s 19th Congressional District last month; Assembly Members Chris Tague and Robert Smullen; and state Sen. Dan Stec, among others.
Paula Collins, a cannabis tax attorney who lost to Stefanik in the 2024 general election, has also announced her candidacy on the Democratic side. Unlike Florida, where special election primaries are held, New York’s parties select their candidates for these elections.
Governor Hochul is mandated by law to set the date for a special election within ten days of Stefanik’s resignation announcement, and the election must occur within 70 to 80 days. An important factor in this race is whether Trump will endorse a candidate before Republicans finalize their replacement.
Although the district leans Republican—Trump won it by nearly 16 points in 2020—it has recently been represented by a Democrat, as former Rep. Bill Owens (D) held the seat before Stefanik.
