Democrats seize on Trump-district flip as midterm signal — Republicans reject the narrative

By Fox News · Fox News

Democrats are ecstatic after flipping a Republican-controlled legislative seat in a right-leaning, Palm Beach, Florida-anchored district that includes Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump' s home turf. "If Democrats can win in Trump’s own backyard, we can win anywhere. From now until November, Democrats are all gas and no brakes as we compete across every corner of Florida and the nation," Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin emphasized as he pointed to this year's midterm elections, when the GOP will be defending its narrow House and Senate majorities. Martin released his statement on Tuesday night, minutes after Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples in a special election in Florida's House District 87, in the race to fill the seat left vacant last August, when GOP state Rep. Mike Caruso resigned to become Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller. But the rival Republican National Committee (RNC), pointing to the ballot box setback, stressed that Democrats were overplaying their hand and that special elections are far from the best barometer of things to come. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL "A low-turnout state House special election is a snapshot of local quirks, candidate dynamics, and turnout math — not some grand verdict." RNC Senior Adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement. While Gregory's victory won't change the balance of power in the state legislature, where for more than a quarter-century Republicans have held majorities in both the House and Senate chambers, bragging rights were up for grabs in the president's home district. And Maples was backed by Trump, who moved his primary permanent residence in 2019 from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida . REPUBLICAN 'WAKE-UP CALL'—SPECIAL ELECTION SHOCKER HIGHLIGHTS GOP MIDTERM RISKS "There is a very important Special Election tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th, for Florida State House District 87 in beautiful Palm Be…