Trump-Endorsed Matt Gaetz Wins GOP Primary for Florida’s 1st Congressional District

Rep. Matt Gaetz on Tuesday won the GOP primary race for Florida’s 1st Congressional District following Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Gaetz won the race by a landslide against veteran and former FedEx executive Mark Lombardo.

As noted by CNN, Gaetz won the race 69.7% to 24.4% against Lombardo.

Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally in Congress, has represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District since 2017.

Congressman @MattGaetz’s first reaction to his landslide primary win:

“This is a fighting district, and for two more years they’ll have a FIGHTING congressman.” 🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/mS4GRoirea

— Joel Valdez (@realJoelValdez) August 24, 2022

Congratulations to the Great America First Congressman @mattgaetz on his primary victory tonight! pic.twitter.com/Jg5g9dOome

— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) August 24, 2022

Lombardo had questioned whether Gaetz was an “informant” who led the FBI to raid former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach resort home Mar-a-Lago.

From CNBC:

In the run-up to the primary, Lombardo seized on Gaetz’s lack of an endorsement from Trump, questioning in an ad whether Gaetz was an “informant” who led the FBI to raid Trump’s Palm Beach resort home Mar-a-Lago.

Little polling was available ahead of the primary, but Gaetz, an incumbent who far outraised and outspent Lombardo, was considered the likely favorite. Lombardo had self-funded the vast majority of his campaign as of early August, campaign finance filings show.

President Trump on Saturday endorsed GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz for Florida’s 1st Congressional District.

“Rep Matt Gaetz is a relentless Fighter for the incredible people of Florida’s 1st Congressional District!” Trump said on Saturday on his Truth Social page.

“Matt is a Champion of our MAGA Agenda, who tirelessly works to Drain the Swamp, Secure the Border, Support our Brave Veterans and Law Enforcement, Defend the Second Amendment, Stand Up to the Woke Mob, and Fight the Never-Ending Witch Hunts from the Radical Left that are destroying our Country!”

“Matt Gaetz puts America First, and he has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump added.

Gaetz will face Democrat Rebekah Jones in November’s general election for Florida’s 1st Congressional District.

From Pensacola News Journal:

Jones beat out Peggy Schiller, who tried unsuccessfully to get Jones removed from the primary ballot alleging Jones had been a registered “unaffiliated” for a crucial two-month period while Jones lived in Maryland.

Jones took home 62.54% of the vote —21,473 votes — compared to Schiller’s 12,861 votes.

Gaetz is expected to breeze to victory in November in the district, which has not been represented by a Democrat in nearly three decades.