As election results poured in, Palm Beach County, home to President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, leaned significantly toward Democrats. This shift occurred even though Republicans retained their hold on Florida, according to the Associated Press’ report at 8:53 p.m. ET.
With over 95% of the votes counted, Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate Angie Nixon led by 10 points in Palm Beach, marking a 10-point shift from the 2024 presidential results. David Jolly, the Democratic candidate for governor, was ahead by 12 points, while José Javier Rodríguez, running for attorney general, had a lead of 11 points.
In 2024, Trump narrowly lost Palm Beach County by 0.74 points. Joe Biden had carried the county by about 13 points in the prior election, leaving Jolly’s margin slightly below Biden’s and roughly 11 points above Kamala Harris’s performance.
Trump had participated in early voting in West Palm Beach in October. When questioned about his vote, he confirmed he supported Republicans.
Trump Voted Here Last Month
Despite Trump’s influence, Democrats achieved notable victories. In March, Emily Gregory claimed a state House district encompassing Mar-a-Lago, highlighting Democratic successes in the area.
Further down the ballot, Republican Representative Brian Mast led Democrat James Martin by 9 points in the Palm Beach County section of Florida’s 21st Congressional District. This area showed greater Democratic support compared to the 2024 presidential race.
Across the district, Mast secured 54.3% of the vote, amounting to 175,691 votes, while Martin captured 44.4%, totaling 143,544 votes.
Elsewhere in Palm Beach, Democratic Representative Lois Frankel led her Republican opponent, Deborah Adeimy, by 31 points. Her district voted 17 points more Democratic than in the 2024 presidential election.
In the Florida governor race, Byron Donalds, backed by Trump, defeated David Jolly. With more than 95% of the vote in, Donalds garnered 50% compared to Jolly’s 48.7%. Trump had carried Florida by a wide margin in 2024.
Donalds, succeeding term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis, becomes Florida’s first Black governor. The state has not elected a Democrat as governor since 1994.
Polling had shown a narrow lead for Donalds. Jolly, a former Republican turned Democrat, campaigned on topics such as affordability and AI data center growth, labeling his opponent as “data center Donalds.”
James Uthmeier, incumbent Republican attorney general, led Rodríguez by 50.9% to 49.1%, although NBC News had not called the race.
In the Florida Senate race, Republican Ashley Moody emerged victorious over Angie Nixon. The AP called Moody the winner at 8:34 p.m. ET, with a lead of 51% to 48%.
DeSantis appointed Moody to the Senate seat in January 2025, following Marco Rubio’s transition to secretary of state. Moody’s win means she will complete Rubio’s term, with the seat contested again in 2028.
Nixon, a state representative, had surprised many by defeating Alex Vindman in the August primary. Her campaign faced criticism from Moody, who labeled her socialist, while Nixon attacked Moody for avoiding debates.
Democrat Jared Moskowitz also secured a win against Scott Singer in the new 25th Congressional District. AP results showed Moskowitz with 51.3% of the vote to Singer’s 46.6%.
Moskowitz, previously representing the 23rd District, ran in the newly defined 25th after Florida altered its congressional map, increasing Republican support in the district.
“This race will help decide the balance of power in the House,” Moskowitz stated prior to the election.
In midterm elections, voter turnout tends to be lower. About 558,000 votes were counted in the county’s Senate race, compared to approximately 738,500 cast during the 2024 presidential election.
Trump had secured Florida with a substantial margin in 2024, receiving 56.1% of votes to Biden’s 43%.
For additional coverage, contact Newsweek editors Alfred Joyner and Gray R. Thomas.
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