Matt Gaetz decisively defeated primary challenger Aaron Dimmock, despite substantial financial backing for Dimmock from former Hosue Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s political operation, securing around 72.6 percent of the vote.
United States Congressman Matt Gaetz handily defeated party challenger Aaron Dimmock, a retired Navy aviator who received substantial backing from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Gaetz secured a decisive victory, winning approximately 72.6 percent of the vote despite McCarthy’s political operation pouring significant resources into Dimmock’s campaign, spending more than $5.2 million on advertising, making this one of the most expensive Republican House primaries of the 2024 cycle. The incumbent now faces Democrat candidate Gay Valimont, who is running on three central platform points — accessible health care, gun control, and abortion rights.
“Thank you FL-01. I will never stop fighting for you,” Gaetz wrote on X following his victory, later quipping “Sign me up for the next Revenge Tour.”
Gaetz’s campaign countered Dimmock’s advertising by launching a series of ads portraying Dimmock as a liberal infiltrator, citing Dimmock’s previous work with Missouri’s Office of Administration and his involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Congressional District 1 district includes Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties, as well as portions of Walton County. In 2020, Escambia County voted nearly 57 percent for Trump, with the other counties averaging more than 70 percent for the GOP candidate.