America First Rep. Matt Gaetz delivered a crushing blow to his primary opponent Aaron Dimmock, winning the race by a 45-point margin in Florida’s 1st Congressional District.
Dimmock, who was backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, found little support in a district where Gaetz’s America First message resonates strongly. The race became a proxy battle between the MAGA movement and the GOP establishment, with Gaetz emerging victorious.
Gaetz took the opportunity to mock McCarthy’s spending in the race. “Kevin McCarthy spent $3 million trying to defeat me, and we still increased our margin of victory,” Gaetz said. He noted that his vote share increased from 70% in the last primary to 73%, despite McCarthy’s efforts. “Maybe if he spends even more, we’ll hit 80% next time,” Gaetz joked.
Dimmock struggled to gain traction as Gaetz’s campaign zeroed in on his background in diversity and equity programs, labeling him “DEI Dimmock” and highlighting his support for Black Lives Matter. The messaging resonated with voters in the district, who rejected what they saw as a candidate aligned with progressive values.
The decisive victory underscores Gaetz’s firm grip on his district and his role as a leading voice in the MAGA movement. It also deals another setback to McCarthy, whose attempts to target MAGA lawmakers following his ouster have largely fallen flat.
With this win, Gaetz solidifies his position as one of the most influential figures in the America First wing of the Republican Party.
