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'Waiting Game': DeSantis calls for special election to fill congressional seats

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — The state of Florida is left with uncertainty after multiple Florida leaders like U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and U.S. Representatives Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz were tapped to join the Trump Administration.

Governor Ron DeSantis took to "X" to congratulate the Floridians nominated for positions to join the Trump team. He also called for special election to fill the seats that will be vacated.

Secretary Cord Bryd followed up, sharing his team is working to ensure the special elections are conducted as soon as possible.

So how often does a special election happen and will the governor still appoint the U.S. Senate seat?

"They can occur at any time, but the time frames are there," said Craig Latimer, supervisor of elections in Hillsborough County. "It doesn't matter when they occur. You still have the time frame that you have to deal with. Except for the U.S. Senate, where the governor can immediately make that appointment."

Latimer said the special election for the two U.S. representative seats will not impact Hillsborough County. Neither Mike Waltz or Matt Gaetz are within the Tampa Bay Area.

Political analyst Tara Newsom joined the conversation and spoke on Susie Wiles, Rubio, Waltz, and Gaetz joining Trump 2024.

"You're going to see a lot of musical chairs and a lot of posturing, and I think that it's really going to show DeSantis' strength and who he puts into these positions," Newsom said. "And for all intents and purposes, we know that they're going to be not only DeSantis loyalists. But trump loyalists."

Governor DeSantis has still not announced his plan to fill Rubio's Senate seat. But no matter whom he chooses, they will only have until the next general election, where there will be a separate special election held to determine who takes on the role.

"We're really going to wait to see if Donald Trump weighs in on that and whether or not DeSantis exercises that independent streak and how he appoints that very important U.S. Senate seat," Newsom said.

We have reached out to the Secretary of State to hear additional details of the special election and will be keeping an eye out for further movement.


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