Gaetz beats McCarthy-backed rival in biggest ‘revenge tour’ setback

Firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) easily defeated the GOP challenger for his Florida House seat on Tuesday, marking the latest and biggest loss for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in his so-called revenge tour.

The Associated Press called the race for Gaetz at 8:13 p.m., 13 minutes after the last of Florida’s polls closed. Gaetz swept to victory with 69.7% over retired naval officer Aaron Dimmock's 30.3%, with 36% of votes counted at the time the race was called.

The contest between Dimmock and Gaetz represents a major setback for McCarthy, who helped funnel millions into unseating the eight House Republicans who voted to oust him as speaker last fall. His sole win has been in Virginia, where House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-VA) lost his primary and then a recount to Republican John McGuire, a former Navy SEAL.

The other seven Republicans either won their primaries, ran uncontested, or opted not to seek reelection this cycle.

McCarthy's leadership PAC did not directly contribute to Dimmock's campaign. Instead, the Freedom Patriots PAC, which is connected to McCarthy allies, spent $3 million supporting Dimmock and attacking Gaetz over sex trafficking and illegal drug use allegations that he strongly denies.

Gaetz, the ringleader who initiated the vote to remove McCarthy, was outspent nearly 4-to-1 in the primary race but still came out on top, largely thanks to his household name in northern Florida and the grassroots aversion to McCarthy among some primary voters.

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McCarthy allies reportedly anticipated Dimmock's loss ahead of the primary and instead said the goal was to hurt Gaetz's chances of running for governor. Gaetz has said he is not planning to seek the governor's mansion despite the speculation.

Gaetz will face Gay Valimont, who ran uncontested in the Democratic primary, in November. The Florida lawmaker's 1st Congressional District seat is ranked "solid Republican" by the Cook Political Report.