Matt Gaetz projected to win Florida Congressional District 1 Republican nomination

NORTHWEST FLORIDA ( WKRG ) — Matt Gaetz has won the Florida Congressional District 1 Republican nomination, according to projections.

Gaetz is looking for a fifth term in Washington, D.C.

The race was called after 36% of the votes were submitted, and he had 69.69% of those votes.

Gaetz was running unopposed until former Naval officer Aaron Dimmock entered the race last minute. Both campaigned up until the day of voting, but Gaetz was able to secure enough votes to get the nomination from Northwest Florida Republicans.

“Well, I stand with the voters of Northwest Florida, and tonight, they showed that they stand with me,” Gaetz told News 5’s Debbie Williams . “They stand with me against the attacks that I so frequently face from the national media and from my colleagues in both political parties because I want things like budgets that balance and term limits and bans on congressional stock trading…”

“I am a marked man in D.C. I am a hated man, but I stand here with the great votes of Northwest Florida who are going to renominate me as their Republican nominee and send me back to fight for ’em in Congress.”

Gaetz will face off against Democratic candidate Gay Valimont in November for Florida’s 1st Congressional District seat.

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