Republican candidate Hilary Holley won the special election for Florida House District 51, defeating Democrat Edwin Pérez and keeping the seat under Republican control. With nearly all precincts reporting, Holley secured about 55% of the vote. The outcome means Democrats were unable to gain a seat they had hoped to flip during a midterm election cycle.
Holley will succeed term-limited Republican Josie Tomkow in the Polk County-based district, which includes communities such as Davenport, Haines City, and Auburndale. While her margin of victory was slightly smaller than Tomkow’s previous win, the district continues to lean Republican. Voter registration figures also reflect this advantage, with a higher percentage of registered Republicans compared to Democrats, along with a significant share of unaffiliated voters.
Throughout the campaign, Holley maintained a strong fundraising lead, raising substantially more than her opponent with support from Republican organizations. She also received endorsements from several prominent figures, including Denise Grimsley and Wilton Simpson. Professionally, Holley serves as Executive Director of the Florida FFA Foundation, where she oversees programs supporting tens of thousands of students. Pérez, a community advocate, focused his campaign on local economic concerns such as affordability, insurance costs, and school funding challenges.
At the national level, election policy remains a topic of debate. Hakeem Jeffries recently raised concerns about the proposed SAVE America Act, which would introduce new voter registration and identification requirements. Supporters, including Chip Roy and Mike Lee, say the measure is intended to strengthen election security. Critics, however, argue it could create barriers for some voters. The House of Representatives is expected to consider the legislation in the near future.