Additional Coverage:
Washington — Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, a Republican who spearheaded the campaign to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, is projected by CBS News to decisively overcome a primary challenger connected to McCarthy this Tuesday.
With roughly 72% of votes tallied, Gaetz is leading Aaron Dimmock, a former Navy officer, by a significant margin of 71% to 28%.
During an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Gaetz remarked, “Kevin McCarthy was driven by revenge and pettiness along with some deeply negative introspection. I’m heading to the 119th Congress, while he’s moving onto the next phase of his grief.”
In response to the election result, Dimmock expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, “It was not the outcome we hoped for.” He added, “It’s always challenging to run as a novice against an entrenched career politician, but it was an honor to represent an alternative choice.”
Last year, McCarthy became the first in history to be voted out of the speakership by the House after Gaetz initiated a motion against him. Despite only eight Republicans supporting the motion, alongside unanimous Democratic support, it was sufficient to depose him. The frustration stemmed from McCarthy’s maneuvers to prevent a government shutdown, which eventually led him to resign from Congress after a protracted struggle within the GOP to select a new speaker.
The rivalry between McCarthy and Gaetz persisted even after McCarthy’s speakership ended. Gaetz is currently aiming to retain his position representing the 1st Congressional District of Florida in the panhandle. This primary forms part of a sequence of challenges related to McCarthy following his removal.
Discussing the campaign, Gaetz mentioned, “Kevin McCarthy’s PACs poured over $3 million into efforts to defeat me, but they didn’t succeed. This underscores the limitations of corrupt, significant money in Washington, especially in Northwest Florida, where I share a strong bond with my constituents.”
Earlier this year, Representative Bob Good, also an ally of Gaetz in the effort against McCarthy, narrowly lost his primary in Virginia to a candidate aligned with McCarthy. However, McCarthy’s other endorsed campaigns have had mixed outcomes, with Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina overcoming a primary challenge in June. Other representatives who supported McCarthy’s removal chose not to seek reelection.
Last year, the Justice Department decided not to prosecute Gaetz following an investigation into alleged sex trafficking claims, which Gaetz vehemently denies. Nevertheless, in June, the House Ethics Committee, having interviewed over a dozen witnesses and reviewed extensive documentation, found that some allegations against Gaetz warranted further scrutiny.
McCarthy has claimed that his removal was fueled by personal grievances Gaetz held against him, particularly around allowing the ethics investigation into Gaetz’s alleged misconduct to proceed. Gaetz, unsure of when the investigation might conclude, accused McCarthy of attempting to tarnish his reputation.
Despite the animosity during last month’s Republican National Convention, where Gaetz openly criticized McCarthy during a live interview, Gaetz, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, was predicted to secure the GOP nomination and confidently win the general election in the solidly Republican district come November. However, this race could pose long-term challenges for Gaetz, who is rumored to be considering a run for Florida governor in 2026.
On social media Monday, Gaetz stated his contentment with his current role and intention to support President Trump in Washington, dismissing any gubernatorial aspirations by saying, “If those plans change, I hope I have opposition as inept as these dorks.”