Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz easily dispatched a primary challenger backed by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his allies Tuesday, all but ensuring the outspoken ally of former President Donald Trump will be reelected to the House representing the Florida panhandle.
Voters also set a matchup for a Senate race in November that has grown increasingly competitive since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid last month and the party united behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the 1st District Republican primary, Gaetz was ahead of Aaron Dimmock, 70 percent to 30 percent, when The Associated Press called the race at 8:13 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.
