Donald Trump’s power to pick political winners in his adopted home state gets another test Tuesday with special election primaries for the seats left vacant by former Republican congressmen Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz.

Tuesday is the special congressional primary election in Northwest Florida. District 1 covers Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and part of Walton County. It does not go into Bay County where Jimmy Patronis lives,

The power of President Donald Trump’s endorsement will face the first tests of his second term Tuesday in a pair of special primary elections in Florida.

The process of replacing Florida Republicans Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz in Congress begins today with primary elections in both of their now former congressional districts. In Gaetz’ 1st Congressional District,

Special primaries in two conservative Florida districts will take place Tuesday to replace former U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz.

The races to fill the U.S. House seats of former Florida Reps. Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz began Tuesday with primaries in reliably conservative districts that solidly back President Donald Trump.

Patronis has the Trump endorsement, boasts the best name recognition in the district, and went into the stretch run of the Primary race best positioned financially, with almost $711,000 cash on hand as of Jan. 8. To put that in perspective, no other candidate in the crowded field had more than $33,000 for the stretch run.

Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s chief financial officer running in the First District, and Randy Fine, a state senator running in the Sixth District, are seen as the favorites to fill the Republican-leaning congressional seats after President Trump endorsed them.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is considered by many to be the frontrunner in the District 1 race due to his endorsement from President Trump. FULL STORY: <a href="

Republican voters in several Florida counties head to the polls on Tuesday, where they will select GOP nominees to fill seats that were held by former Reps. Michael Waltz and Matt Gaetz.

Republican primary voters in Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts will pick the likely successors to former representatives Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz, respectively.