Dimmock, a retired Navy officer, had the backing of Super PACs with ties to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Gaetz led a group of seven other House Republicans to oust McCarthy as House Speaker last year. All eight Republicans have faced well-financed primary challenges that many political commentators dubbed as the "McCarthy revenge tour." Only one incumbent, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, has lost a primary.
Gaetz has ridiculed McCarthy's backing of Dimmock and his opponent's post-military career that involved training corporate managers in diversity. Gaetz has labeled Dimmock a diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) instructor, which has become a derogatory term in Republican politics. During one campaign event, Gaetz said DEI was "anti-white racism."
The groups backing Dimmock inundated the district with advertisements hitting Gaetz over allegations he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations and the Justice Department declined to bring any charges last year, though the House Ethic Committee is still investigating.
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