In a stark departure from when previous vacancies occurred, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants special elections scheduled immediately to fill two congressional vacancies needed to protect Republicans’ majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
DeSantis, on a trade mission to Italy, gave instructions to Secretary of State Cord Byrd to quickly schedule the elections, now that President-elect Donald Trump has plucked two Florida GOP congressmen for his administration.
Republicans won enough seats to maintain control of the House as of Wednesday.
The news came in the wake of announcements that U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz from Daytona Beach and now-former congressman Matt Gaetz from Fort Walton Beach will join the new Trump administration. Gaetz has already submitted his letter of resignation from the chamber; it was read on the House floor Thursday.
Gaetz and Waltz represent Republican strongholds: Both were reelected this month with 66% of the vote and the possibility of either district flipping to the Democrats are unlikely.
Without them, the GOP has an eight-vote majority with nine districts, mostly in California and Alaska, still counting.
DeSantis did not move as quickly to schedule elections to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings in 2021.
Hastings passed away that May. DeSantis scheduled a November primary and a January general election to fill the seat.
When three Democratic Florida Legislature members resigned to run for Hastings’ seat, the special elections for their seats were scheduled for March and ensured the Democratic seats would be vacant for most of the legislative session.
Florida law provides that the governor shall order a special election to fill a vacancy in the congressional delegation – but is silent on when the governor must act.
It says after the governor consults with the Secretary of State, dates are to be set for a qualifying period, primary and general elections. An order for the election with those dates is then sent to county supervisors of elections. They are then required to publish the dates twice in a general circulation newspaper at least 10 days before qualifying begins.
Holding on to the Gaetz and Waltz seats are important to the Trump agenda. The majority gives the president-elect significant authority to enact his agenda and Democrats less leverage to challenge policies.
Steps to a special election
∎ The Governor issues an order declaring a fixed date the election shall be held.
∎ The Department of State prepares a notice that sets the dates for a four-day candidate qualifying period, and primary and general elections.
∎ County supervisors of elections shall publish the dates twice in a general circulation newspaper and their website at least 10 days before the start of the qualifying period.
∎ There must be a minimum of 14 days between the end of the qualifying period and the primary election.
∎ There is a minimum of 14 days between the primary and general elections.
The upshot: The quickest path to a special general election, once the governor sets the wheels in motion, is six weeks.
Source: Florida Division of Elections, state law
(This story was updated to add new information.)
James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.