Florida's DeSantis Calls for Special Elections to Fill House Seats Emptied By Lawmakers Leaving For Trump Administration

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called for special elections to fill two congressional seats that will be vacated by Representatives Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, both of whom have been selected for roles in President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. Gaetz is set to become U.S. Attorney General, pending Senate confirmation, while Waltz will serve as National Security Advisor.

"I've instructed Secretary of State Cord Byrd to formulate and announce a schedule for the upcoming special elections immediately," said DeSantis as reported by Spectrum News.

The elections will cover Florida's Congressional District 1 in Northwest Florida, a conservative area represented by Gaetz, and Congressional District 6 in Central Florida, represented by Waltz. While DeSantis has emphasized urgency, state laws governing special elections—covering candidate qualification periods, primaries, and general elections—could result in delays of weeks or months.

"We will have this schedule posted soon, and we are working to ensure these special elections are conducted as soon as possible," said Byrd.

Additionally, Florida Senator Marco Rubio has been selected as Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, a move that has been questioned by several MAGA loyalists. In this instance, state law empowers DeSantis to appoint Rubio's replacement rather than calling for a special election. Whoever is appointed would serve until 2026 and would need to run for the seat during the midterm elections.

Potential appointees reportedly include Republican National Committee Chairwoman Lara Trump, DeSantis' Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez, and Attorney General Ashley Moody.

In this instance, state law empowers DeSantis to appoint Rubio's replacement rather than calling for a special election. Potential appointees reportedly include Republican National Committee Chairwoman Lara Trump, DeSantis' Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez, and Attorney General Ashley Moody. Whoever is appointed would serve until 2026 and would need to run for the seat during the midterm elections.

DeSantis' decision to expedite the congressional special elections has drawn comparisons to delays in similar past situations. Notably, it took nine months to hold a special election following the 2021 death of Democratic Representative Alcee Hastings, as La Opinión reports.