Republican state Sen. Randy Fine took on Democrat Josh Weil, a public school employee and political newcomer, during one-of-two special elections in Florida Tuesday night. (Getty/AP)
The Republican's victory came in the closest election for Florida's sixth district since 2018, when former Congressman Waltz beat out his Democrat opponent by13 points. Each subsequent election, Waltz won at least 60% of the vote.
Tuesday's unusually close race, widely seen as a referendum on President Trump's first few months in office, carries implications for the broader battle for power in Congress.
There were fears that a loss in both, or either, of Florida's Tuesday special elections would deal a significant blow to the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, which has dwindled since Trump plucked numerous Republican House members, such as Waltz, to join his cabinet.
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Amid these concerns, GOP New York Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to be Trump's Ambassador to the United Nations was pulled.
Democrat educator and political outsider Josh Weil lost to Republican state Sen. Randy Fine in Florida's 6th Congressional District, considered a GOP stronghold. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Weil's ability to drum up a campaign war chest worth nearly $10 million, dwarfed Fine's which held a little under $1 million. However, in the final week before Tuesday's election, outside Republican-aligned groups doled out around $1 million for advertising in an attempt to help boost Fine.
Tuesday's victory notches one more seat in the House for Republicans, expanding their slim five-vote majority by one more.
Following Tuesday's victory President Trump took to social media to congratulate Fine and Fine thanked the President for his support.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-state-senator-wins-florida-special-election-extends-gop-house-majority