Representative Matt Gaetz, who was instrumental in the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, secured a victory against primary challenger Aaron Dimmock in Florida on Tuesday. Former Florida governor Senator Rick Scott also triumphed in his primary.
With approximately 72% of the votes counted, Gaetz led Dimmock, a former Navy officer, by a substantial margin of 71% to 28%.
In an interview, Gaetz remarked, “Kevin McCarthy was motivated by revenge and pettiness and I think some very destructive soul searching. I’m on my way to the 119th Congress, and he’s on his way to whatever the next stage of grief is.”
Following the results, Dimmock expressed disappointment, stating, “This was not the result we had hoped for. Running as a first-time candidate against a powerful career politician is never easy, but I was honored to have the opportunity to be that alternative.”
Last year, McCarthy became the first Speaker in history to be removed through a House vote, a move led by Gaetz. Although only eight Republicans joined the Democrats to vote him out, it was sufficient to end McCarthy’s tenure. Many Republicans were frustrated with his efforts to prevent a government shutdown. Subsequently, he resigned following a protracted battle among GOP members to elect a new speaker.
The rivalry between McCarthy and Gaetz persisted even after McCarthy’s speakership ended. Gaetz is striving to retain his position in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, amidst a series of challenges linked to McCarthy’s ouster.
Gaetz noted, “Kevin McCarthy’s PACs spent over $3 million trying to defeat me and they were unsuccessful, which demonstrates the limits of corrupt big money in places like Northwest Florida where there’s a strong connection between me and my voters.”
Earlier this year, Representative Bob Good, who assisted Gaetz in ousting McCarthy, lost his primary in Virginia to McCarthy-aligned candidate. However, others aligned with McCarthy have faced mixed outcomes, with Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina managing to survive her own primary challenge backed by McCarthy.
For Gaetz, this primary marked the conclusion of McCarthy’s so-called revenge tour, which included a media campaign by a McCarthy-affiliated group targeting him with various allegations, including that he had paid a minor for sex. The Justice Department previously concluded its investigation into these allegations without any charges against Gaetz, who has denied all claims against him. However, the House Ethics Committee found that some allegations warrant further investigation.
McCarthy has suggested that his removal was fueled by Gaetz’s personal vendetta, related to the ethics investigation into Gaetz’s conduct. Gaetz has accused McCarthy of attempting to “smear” him.
Their discord was evident at the recent Republican National Convention, where Gaetz interrupted McCarthy during a live interview, accusing him of being booed off stage if he took the platform. McCarthy continued his interview without responding to Gaetz, hinting at Gaetz’s ongoing ethics problems.
Heading into Tuesday’s primary, Gaetz, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, was anticipated to win the GOP nomination and is expected to perform well in the general election in November for the predominantly Republican district. Despite this, the contentious primary might have longer-term implications for Gaetz, who is rumored to be eyeing a gubernatorial bid in Florida in 2026.
Gaetz stated on social media that he has “no plans to run for Governor,” expressing satisfaction with his current role and his desire to assist President Trump in Washington. He added, “If those plans change, I hope I have opposition as incompetent as these dorks.”