Red states throughout the country are considering employment verification legislation that experts say could be one of the most effective ways to encourage illegal alien self-deportations.
The states are considering bills that would mandate that employers use E-Verify, a system run by the Department of Homeland Security that ensures workers are in the country legally and eligible for employment.
Ira Mehlman, the media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-one-simple-trick-that-could-lead-illegal-immigrants-to-self-deport?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=23&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=The+One+Simple+Trick+That+Could+Lead+Illegal+Immigrants+To+Self-Deport">told</a> The Daily Wire that E-Verify mandates eliminate the “biggest incentive” for illegal aliens to enter or stay in the United States.
“If employers were mandated to use E-Verify and the government demonstrated the resolve to hold employers accountable, that would go a long way toward drying up the supply of jobs for illegal aliens, thereby eliminating the biggest incentive to come or remain here illegally,” Mehlman explained.
A recent estimate from FAIR found that there are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-alien-population-surges-to-record-high-bombshell-study-finds">18.6 million illegal aliens</a> currently present in the United States, with experts like Mehlman and Center for Immigration Studies Executive Director Mark Krikorian saying that self-deportations are key to reducing America’s illegal alien population.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerLndqst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpencerLndqst</a> on the latest logistical issue the Trump administration is facing:
&#8220;There are 18.6 million illegal aliens present in the US currently. If they had their own state, not only would it always go to the Democrats, it would also be the fifth largest in the country.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qyvTkyOO4P">pic.twitter.com/qyvTkyOO4P</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1915060538348130408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Now, states across the country are considering legislation to implement or expand E-Verify mandates. Idaho’s House of Representatives is <a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/02/14/idaho-legislature-introduces-new-bill-requiring-employers-e-verify-all-new-employees/">considering</a> an E-Verify proposal that would require all businesses in the state to verify the employment status of new employees. Republican Representative Jordan Redman, the sponsor of the legislation, says that the bill “adds to Idaho employment law to prohibit employment of illegal aliens and require employers to use E-Verify for each new hire to verify legal employment status as a condition of their employment.”
The effort has faced opposition from Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, a Republican from Idaho Falls and a potato farmer, as well as from the Idaho Dairyman’s Association, which cited labor shortage concerns.
Montana is currently <a href="https://legiscan.com/MT/bill/HB226/2025">considering legislation</a> that would require employers to use E-Verify or the I-9 employment verification form and maintain eligibility documentation for workers. Companies that fail to abide by the law could face civil penalties, including fines and even the revocation of business licenses after multiple violations. The bill was sent to the governor after passing through the state House and Senate.
“By leveraging verification systems already in place, we can promote lawful employment practices while protecting the integrity of our labor market,” said Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, the House bill’s sponsor.
The Florida State House <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/04/23/florida-house-passes-e-verify-measure-but-bill-looks-dead-in-the-senate/">just passed</a> legislation that would expand the state’s current E-Verify laws and require all businesses to use the system. But even though the bill was passed with unanimous support from Republicans and garnered support from seven Democrats, the corresponding effort hasn’t gained any traction in the Senate and has not been assigned to a committee.
Texas is also considering legislation to expand its existing E-Verify mandate, which currently only applies to government workers. The <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=SB324">new legislation</a> would require all employers in the state to use E-Verify, which Sen. Lois Kolkhurst <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/state/senate-committee-advances-legislation-requiring-use-of-e-verify/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> “the most functional and cost-effective method the state of Texas can implement to stem the flow of illegal immigration.”
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has <a href="https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/ensuring-a-legal-workforce-in-texas">endorsed</a> the Texas bill, asserting that it could help unemployed Americans in the Lone Star state get back into the workforce while disincentivizing illegal immigration. “The largest pull factor for illegal aliens is the ability to make money in the U.S.,” AFPI explained. “Mandatory use of E-Verify would significantly reduce the ability of illegal aliens to work, and over time, this action will help reduce the pull factor of employment for those who enter the country unlawfully.”

Illegal alien sign

Red States Consider Bills To Push Illegals To Self-Deport

E-Verify

Florida

Idaho

Illegal Immigration

Montana

Politics

Texas

Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate a Delta jet through the emergency slide after an engine caught fire at Orlando International Airport on Monday.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1213, an Airbus 330, was preparing for departure at around 11:15 a.m. for a quick flight to Atlanta and had just pushed back from the gate when one of the engines burst into flames, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/delta-plane-engine-fire-orlando-airport-passengers-evacuate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. There were 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots onboard, according to the airline.
A <a href="https://x.com/ExxAlerts/status/1914351671611978217" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> on social media showed a large flame shooting out from an engine on the right side of the plane as passengers slid down the emergency slide. According to Delta, the plane&#8217;s crew evacuated the Airbus after they noticed a fire in the tailpipe of one of its two main engines.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Passengers had to evacuate on emergency slides after a Delta plane caught fire on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport on Monday, the FAA said.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1213, bound for Atlanta, was pushing back from the gate for departure around 11:15 a.m. when an engine… <a href="https://t.co/kLJ1LR7DeF">pic.twitter.com/kLJ1LR7DeF</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1914378120058073479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
No one was injured, according to initial reports, and the passengers were taken back to the terminal, where they will board another aircraft to take them to Atlanta, according to Delta. The flames were contained by fire crews at the airport.
The cause of the fire was not initially known, and the Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating the incident.
&#8220;Nothing is more important than safety and Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible,&#8221; Delta said in a statement.
In February, 18 people were injured when a Delta plane flipped upside down after landing at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada. A preliminary report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada on the crash landing found that the pilot of the Delta passenger jet, which took off from Minneapolis, was descending at twice the speed that qualifies as a &#8220;hard landing,&#8221; The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/world/canada/delta-plane-crash-toronto-report.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

Delta Airlines Airbus

Passengers Forced To Evacuate After Delta Jet Bursts Into Flames

Air and Space

Airplane

Delta Airlines

U.S.

Authorities identified the man accused of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shooting-reported-at-florida-state-university-at-least-4-people-wounded?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=At+Least+2+Dead%2C+Multiple+Wounded+In+Shooting+At+Florida+State" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opening fire</a> at Florida State University on Thursday as the son of a Leon County, Florida, Sheriff&#8217;s Department deputy.
At least two people were killed and six more were wounded in the shooting that took place just before noon ET. Leon County Sheriff Walter A. McNeil identified the shooter, whom The Daily Wire will not name per company policy, as a 20-year-old male student at FSU, who is the son of a sheriff&#8217;s deputy who has been with the Leon County Sheriff&#8217;s Department for over 18 years.
&#8220;Her service to this community has been exceptional,&#8221; Sheriff McNeil said of the deputy. &#8220;Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.&#8221;
The weapon found at the scene was not the firearm that the deputy was currently using on the force, but rather one that she had been issued previously by her department.
&#8220;A lot of times — many agencies, mine included — when we transition to a new handgun, the officers are allowed to purchase the handgun they used prior. &#8230; I believe that&#8217;s the case here,&#8221; Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence E. Revell said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
The 20-year-old suspect was also a &#8220;longstanding member of the Leon County Sheriff&#8217;s Office Youth Advisory Council,&#8221; McNeil added. &#8220;So he has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff&#8217;s Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have, so it&#8217;s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons.&#8221;
The shooter was neutralized &#8220;immediately&#8221; by Florida State University Police, and he has been transported to a local hospital. Neither of the victims who were killed were Florida State students, and their identities have not yet been released, Interim FSU Police Chief Justin Maloy said at the press conference.
FSU President Richard McCullough called the first responders &#8220;absolute heroes.&#8221;
&#8220;The call went out, and immediately they responded to the scene and immediately neutralized the suspect and prevented this from being a bigger tragedy,&#8221; McCullough said.
Florida State canceled classes and all athletic events on campus for the rest of the week.
President Donald Trump addressed the shooting from the Oval Office during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, adding that he has been “fully briefed as to where we are right now.”
“It’s a shame. It’s a horrible thing, horrible that things like this take place,” Trump added. “And we’ll have more to say about it later.”

Florida State University shooting

FSU Shooter Identified As Son Of Sheriff’s Deputy Whose Weapon Was Found At The Scene

Crime

Florida State University

Guns

School Shooting

At least two people were killed and five people were wounded in a mass shooting on Thursday at Florida State University in Tallahassee.
The university <a href="https://manager.everbridge.net/pub/1987265798990010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued an alert</a> at 12:01 p.m. ET, telling students to &#8220;seek shelter and await further instructions&#8221; as an active shooter was &#8220;reported in the area of Student Union.&#8221; Florida State University Police responded to the shooting &#8220;immediately,&#8221; neutralizing the suspect and taking him into custody. The shooter is an FSU student, and neither of the victims who were killed attended the university, Interim FSU Police Chief Justin Maloy said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
A suspect is in custody, and police are making sure there are no additional shooters, ABC News reported. At 1:04 p.m. ET, FSU sent another <a href="https://alerts.fsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alert</a> to students, instructing them to &#8220;continue to shelter in place,&#8221; adding that &#8220;law enforcement is actively clearing rooms on the main campus.&#8221;
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said it is &#8220;receiving and caring for patients&#8221; from the shooting, with at least four people being treated for unspecified injuries, NBC News reported. The hospital later updated that number to six people, with one person in critical condition and five people in serious condition. A senior law enforcement official told NBC News that at least one person had died in the shooting. It wasn&#8217;t immediately clear if the fatality was a victim or the shooter.
&#8220;At this time, details are still unfolding, and we do not yet have specific information to share,&#8221; the hospital said in a statement. &#8220;However, we want to assure the community that our teams are fully mobilized and prepared to provide the highest level of care and support to all those affected.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_909263" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-909263" class="wp-image-909263 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210086213-1-768x576.jpg" alt="Florida State University shooting" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210086213-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210086213-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210086213-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2210086213-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Students at Florida State University wait as law enforcement clears campus following a shooting on April 17, 2025 (Ana Ceballos/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images).</div>
President Donald Trump addressed the shooting from the Oval Office during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, adding that he has been &#8220;fully briefed as to where we are right now.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s a shame. It&#8217;s a horrible thing, horrible that things like this take place,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;And we&#8217;ll have more to say about it later.&#8221;
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1912917643452883057" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the FBI is on the scene in Tallahassee.
&#8220;Our priority is the safety of everyone involved,&#8221; Bondi added. &#8220;We will keep updating as we learn more. Praying for all.&#8221;
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) said in a <a href="https://x.com/DrNealDunnFL2/status/1912915598859739544" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, &#8220;It’s too early to understand the extent of the violence, but early reports are very disturbing.&#8221;
A <a href="https://x.com/WeatherGarrett/status/1912899723431641595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1912899723431641595%7Ctwgr%5E90fa3d39c43207a788113c279e0edf4dc6cc6df1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FrQpwjQI%3F_showcaption%3Dtrueapp%3D1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> taken on FSU&#8217;s campus showed some people running across a road as sirens blared. The university canceled classes for the remainder of the day and told people not already at the school to &#8220;avoid coming to the Tallahassee main campus.&#8221;
This is a developing story; refresh the page for updates.

Florida State

At Least 2 Dead, Multiple Wounded In Shooting At Florida State

Shooting

A Florida teacher has been fired for using a student&#8217;s preferred name without the consent of the student&#8217;s parents.
Melissa Calhoun, a teacher at Satellite High School near Cape Canaveral, will not have her contract renewed for next school year after she called a student by a preferred name without getting a form signed by the parents, the district said.
Calhoun is thought to be the first teacher fired over Florida&#8217;s new law requiring teachers to obtain parental consent before referring to students by a different name than their legal one. This is the second school year the law has been in effect.
The student&#8217;s parent reportedly alerted Brevard Public Schools that Calhoun was calling the student by a different name.
Members of the community said this case was related to the student&#8217;s transgender-identifying identity.
&#8220;BPS supports parents’ rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, and Florida law affirms their right to be informed,&#8221; Brevard Public Schools Spokesperson Janet Murnaghan <a href="https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2025/04/10/florida-high-school-teacher-calls-student-by-preferred-name-loses-job/83008163007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement.
&#8220;At BPS our focus is on education — teachers are here to teach and support students academically,&#8221; Murnaghan said. &#8220;Our job is to work in partnership with parents and guardians to ensure student success.&#8221;
Calhoun allegedly said she &#8220;knowingly did not comply with state statute.&#8221;
The district issued her a letter of reprimand and ultimately decided not to renew her contract for the fall because the state would be reviewing her teaching credentials since she had violated state law. Calhoun will finish out the school year, and then her contract expires in May.
The situation has sparked a strong response in the community, with some community members protesting the teacher&#8217;s firing at a school board meeting on Tuesday.
Calhoun has worked for the district for over a decade, since 2013, and she taught AP Literature, her LinkedIn <a href="https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2025/04/10/florida-high-school-teacher-calls-student-by-preferred-name-loses-job/83008163007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a>.
The federal government has taken a similar stand to Florida on gender ideology in public schools.
Shortly after he took office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order threatening to pull federal funding from public school districts that promote gender ideology.
Gender ideology became a hot button issue during the presidential election last year. Parents across the country sounded the alarm on children going by different names and pronouns in school behind families&#8217; backs, supported by teachers and school staff.
A 2023 poll <a href="https://defendinged.org/press-releases/parents-defending-education-poll-71-of-voters-support-legislation-requiring-schools-to-inform-parents-if-their-child-wants-to-change-their-gender-identity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showed</a> that 71% of voters supported schools being legally required to inform parents when a student wants to change their gender identity.

US-POLITICS-WYOMING-LGBTQ-DISCRIMINATION

Florida Teacher Fired For Using Student’s Preferred Name Behind Parents’ Backs

Education

Gender

LGBTQ

Public Schools

Social Issues

Transgender

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel next week to Panama, where President Donald Trump has made headlines with his calls to take control of the famed Panama Canal, the Defense Department announced on Friday.
Hegseth will leave the United States early next week for a trip to Panama City, Panama to participate in the 2025 Central American Security Conference.
&#8220;The Secretary will meet with partner-nation senior civilian, military, and security leadership in a series of bilateral meetings that will drive ongoing efforts to strengthen our partnerships with Panama and other Central American nations toward our shared vision for a peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere,&#8221; chief spokesman Sean Parnell said.
After the Panama segment of the trip, the Defense Secretary will head to Eglin Air Force Base in the western Florida panhandle &#8220;to visit service members and command leadership at 7th Special Forces Group.&#8221;
The visit comes after President Donald Trump said in his joint address to Congress that he plans to reclaim the Panama Canal. &#8220;We didn’t give it to China; we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,&#8221; the president said in early March.
This was not the first time the president had articulated interest in Panama Canal. In December, he expressed frustration about the fees Panama charges the U.S. to use the canal, saying in a Truth Social post: “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop.”
Panama&#8217;s President José Raúl Mulino responded to Trump&#8217;s March remarks by accusing Trump of lying, writing in an &#8220;X&#8221; post: &#8220;Once again, President Trump is lying. The Panama Canal is not in the process of being restored, and this is certainly not the task that was even discussed in our conversations with Secretary Rubio or anyone else.&#8221;
&#8220;I reject, on behalf of Panama and all Panamanians, this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Cooperation between our governments requires clear understandings on issues of mutual interest, as has been done. It has nothing to do with the &#8216;recovery of the Canal&#8217; or with tarnishing our national sovereignty. The Canal is Panamanian and will continue to be Panamanian!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Nuevamente miente el Presidente Trump. El Canal de Panamá no está en proceso de recuperación y mucho menos es la tarea que en nuestras conversaciones con el Secretario Rubio ni ningún otro se haya ni siquiera conversado. Rechazo a nombre de Panamá y de todos los panameños esta…
— José Raúl Mulino (@JoseRaulMulino) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoseRaulMulino/status/1897268186191450454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2025</a></blockquote>

(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Hegseth Heads To Panama Following Trump Vow To Take Back Panama Canal

Panama

Pete Hegseth

CNN anchor Jake Tapper was quick to spin the margin of victory for Florida&#8217;s former Chief Financial Officer Jim Patronis, who won the seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Tuesday.
Gaetz, who was initially tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as Attorney General, withdrew his nomination for the post — but not before he resigned his seat in the House of Representatives. But when Patronis was projected to win the seat on Tuesday, CNN&#8217;s Tapper was quick to point out that his margin of victory would not come close to Gaetz&#8217;s 37-point margin in November of 2024.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
You know things are bad for the Democrats when they&#39;re celebrating double digit losses in Congressional races.
&quot;He is going to win, we&#39;re projecting a win for him [Patronis]. But Dana, it&#39;s not a 35 point win.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xWhxjltMVU">pic.twitter.com/xWhxjltMVU</a>
&mdash; Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasMHern/status/1907228175953780971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Patronis is a strong candidate,&#8221; Tapper said, before adding, &#8220;And he is — he&#8217;s going to win, we&#8217;re projecting a win for him — but Dana, it&#8217;s not a 35-point win that it should be in ruby red panhandle Florida.&#8221;
&#8220;You&#8217;re exactly right,&#8221; fellow anchor Dana Bash agreed. &#8220;And it is the whole question of the margins, Jake, that is what Democrats have been looking at all night.&#8221;
Critics pointed out that Tapper was trying to spin a double-digit loss as some kind of a win for Democrats.
&#8220;CNN is always funny to watch on election night when Republican are winning!&#8221; Brigitte Gabriel posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CNN is always funny to watch on election night when Republican are winning!
&mdash; Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACTBrigitte/status/1907229180602847323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Others pointed out that Patronis&#8217; race — and the other Florida race to fill the seat vacated by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz — were special elections held alongside municipal elections and, therefore, required a different calculus when looking at what the margins of victory might mean.
Special elections often see much lower turnout — and that can lead to slimmer margins of victory and even upsets in the final results.
In 2017, a very <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/special-house-elections-trump-era-opposing-party/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">similar scene</a> played out in Kansas after President Donald Trump nominated then-Congressman Mike Pompeo to serve as his CIA Director. Despite Pompeo winning his seat the previous November by a comfortable 31 points, his replacement Ron Estes was only able to eke out a six-point victory. In 2020, Estes won the same seat by 27 points. He won by 27 points again in 2022, and by 30 points in 2024.

US-POLITICS-VOTE-DEBATE

CNN Spins Margin In Effort To Downplay Republican Win In Florida

Dana Bash

Jake Tapper

Media

Two Republicans swept Florida’s special elections on Tuesday in key wins for the GOP.
“BOTH FLORIDA HOUSE SEATS HAVE BEEN WON, BIG, BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE,” President Donald Trump wrote in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114265493906125093" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Truth Social on Tuesday evening. “THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!!!”
Republican state Sen. Randy Fine is projected to win a special congressional election in Florida on Tuesday, protecting the seat for the GOP that formerly belonged to National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Republican state Sen. Randy Fine prevailed over Democrat Josh Weil in Florida’s 6th congressional district with 54% to 46% at the time the race was called by <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/republican-randy-fine-wins-special-election-deep-red-house-seat-florid-rcna198089" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>. Florida’s 6th is a deep red district that Trump won by 30 points.
“Because of you, Mr. President. I won’t let you down,” Fine posted on X after the victory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Because of you, Mr. President. 
I won’t let you down. <a href="https://t.co/AH8XLjYJde">pic.twitter.com/AH8XLjYJde</a>
&mdash; Senator Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) <a href="https://twitter.com/VoteRandyFine/status/1907213655088762998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
President Donald Trump congratulated Fine in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114265353051503359" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Truth Social.
“Congratulations Randy, a great WIN against a massive CASH AVALANCHE,” the president wrote.
Republican Jimmy Patronis was leading Democrat Gay Valimont by 56% to 43% after the race for Florida’s 1st congressional district was called by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/01/us/elections/results-florida-special.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.
“Jimmy Patronis WINS BIG! Congratulations Jimmy,” Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114265460175109325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Truth Social.
The seats are key wins for Republicans as momentum in special elections has appeared to shift toward Democrats after Trump’s election. The GOP’s thin majority in the House has placed severe pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and GOP leaders to hold the fractious caucus together.
GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) was previously Trump’s pick to represent the United States at the United Nations. The White House pulled Stefanik’s nomination last week in order to protect the Republicans’ thin majority in the House as Johnson attempts to act on Trump’s legislative agenda.

Donald Trump

Republicans Sweep In Florida Special Elections: ‘CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!!!’

Elections

Randy Fine

House GOP leaders scrubbed the floor schedule for the week after a small number of Republicans banded together with Democrats to  safeguard a bipartisan initiative to allow proxy voting for new parents.
Nine Republicans <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined</a> with 213 Democrats to defeat a rule that provided for consideration of bills that were expected to get votes in the next couple of days, including legislation to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-to-vote-on-restraining-nationwide-injunctions-stop-judicial-overreach-against-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stem</a> the tide of nationwide injunctions and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-to-again-vote-on-bill-requiring-voters-prove-citizenship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">require</a> voters prove their United States citizenship for federal elections.
What drove the GOP rebellion was language included in the rule that sought to block a <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2025031001" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discharge petition</a> from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL). The petition had garnered enough signatures — 218 in total — to force leadership to act within two legislative days on a <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/23/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resolution</a> to allow for parental remote voting by proxy.
&#8220;At the last minute, leadership chose to tie my discharge petition to a rules package that would permanently paint me and the members supporting it as being anti-election integrity,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/RepLuna/status/1907187375408914874" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Luna, who reportedly <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn48z5q28vyo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">missed</a> 137 votes while recovering from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/16/us/politics/anna-paulina-luna-house-proxy-voting.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complications</a> associated with her giving birth to a son in 2023.
&#8220;Leadership should stop playing political games with President Trump’s agenda,&#8221; she added on X. &#8220;They can bring any of the legislation to the floor. Why would they send Congress home? They’re not serious about anything they are messaging on. I’m not in the business of lying about what is happening in DC.&#8221;
Republican opponents have <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1907144366533333219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> constitutional objections to proxy voting, which took hold several years ago under Democrat leadership during the COVID pandemic, and warned that conceding exceptions for new parents would lead to more allowances.
&#8220;Proxy voting is unconstitutional and will be abused and expanded. Show up for work, or don’t run for Congress,&#8221; Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/chiproytx/status/1907078128410718479" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters he was &#8220;disappointed&#8221; by the outcome of the rule vote and noted that he wanted to &#8220;make clear&#8221; that it meant &#8220;we can&#8217;t have any further action on the floor this week.&#8221;
However, multiple reporters pointed out that leadership could vote on the election integrity bill because it was <a href="https://x.com/jamiedupree/status/1907149737578373320" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> in January or <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1907141365697278232" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;go back to rules&#8221;</a> as the week was less than half-way over.
On Monday, Luna <a href="https://x.com/emilybrooksnews/status/1906813805985755378" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that she was leaving the House Freedom Caucus, pinning the decision on how some of the conservative group&#8217;s members sought to defeat her discharge petition.
Rep. Brittany Petterson (D-CO), who sponsored the proxy voting bill, <a href="https://x.com/ABCPolitics/status/1907120319841595412" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on the House floor on Tuesday while holding her newborn baby: &#8220;It is unfathomable that in 2025, we have not modernized Congress to address these very unique challenges that members face.&#8221;

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna

House Clears Schedule After Proxy Vote Snafu

Congress

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington D.C.

On Tuesday, April 1, two critical special elections will be held in Florida. GOP state senator Randy Fine is running to succeed former Rep. Mike Waltz, who was named National Security Advisor, and Florida chief financial officer and GOP candidate Jimmy Patronis is running to succeed former Rep. Matt Gaetz.
The races are critical because the GOP currently holds a narrow 218-213 advantage in the House, with four vacancies. Two other races will be held for vacant Democratic seats in Texas and Arizona, expected to be won by Democrats.
Fine is facing off against Democratic opponent Joshua Weil; Patronis is facing Democrat Gay Valimont. Fine’s district has roughly twice as many registered Republicans as Democrats, the <a href="https://dos.fl.gov/elections/data-statistics/voter-registration-statistics/voter-registration-reports/voter-registration-by-county-and-party/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida Division of Elections website</a> notes. But Weil has <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5212893-florida-gov-ron-desantis-special-election/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> nearly $10 million, while Fine has only raised $561,000.
“He needs to do better. But we’re going to win that seat,” National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC)  <a href="https://x.com/reesejgorman/status/1904267473911742657" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>. “I would have preferred if our candidate had raised money at a faster rate and gotten on TV quicker. But he’s doing what he needs to do.”
Winning the two Florida seats is clearly vital for the GOP; NY Rep. Elise Stefanik&#8217;s nomination for UN Ambassador was pulled on Thursday out of concern that a vacancy in her district would reduce the GOP majority by another vote.
On Monday, President Trump, whom Fine supported in the GOP primary, offered a hearty endorsement of Fine on Truth Social, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114217184366735434" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stating</a>:
<blockquote>
America First Patriot Randy Fine is running to represent the Great People of Florida’s 6th Congressional District! A highly successful, Harvard educated businessman, and greatly respected State Legislator, Randy has been a tremendous Voice for MAGA. In Congress, Randy will be an incredible fighter, who will work tirelessly with me to Stop Inflation, Grow our Economy, Secure the Border, Champion our Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. 
  
Randy Fine has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Congress. Florida, Early Voting is March 22-29, and Election Day is April 1st – GET OUT AND VOTE EARLY FOR RANDY!
</blockquote>

WA D.C. springtime

Critical Florida Special Elections For GOP Coming On Tuesday

House of Representatives

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) said this week that the state was returning nearly $900 million to the federal government, something it tried to do repeatedly during the Biden administration.
&#8220;For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn&#8217;t even figure out how to accept it,&#8221; DeSantis said in a post on X.
The governor said that he met with Elon Musk on Friday and the rest of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team and was able to return the money.
&#8220;We got this done in the same day,&#8221; DeSantis said. &#8220;Other states should follow Florida in supporting DOGE&#8217;s efforts!&#8221;
The governor posted the letter that he sent to the U.S. Treasury Department alerting them that the state was formally returning $878,112,000.00 in taxpayer dollars to the federal government &#8220;as part of DOGE&#8217;s efforts.&#8221;
&#8220;We will also continue to identify other unused or surplus federal funding granted to Florida and determine if further refunds can be made,&#8221; the governor added in the letter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn&#8217;t even figure out how to accept it. Today, I met with <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the… <a href="https://t.co/uWyloPAhBU">pic.twitter.com/uWyloPAhBU</a>
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1903225068571738347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
Musk highlighted DeSantis&#8217; effort on X, writing: &#8220;Almost a billion dollars of your taxpayer money saved.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/casey-desantis-weighs-in-on-launching-bid-for-florida-governor">Casey DeSantis Weighs In On Launching Bid For Florida Governor</a>

The 2024 Republican National Convention

DeSantis Works With Musk To Return Staggering Sum Of Cash To Federal Government

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Elon Musk

General

Ron DeSantis

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis indicated on Friday that she is considering launching a bid to replace her husband as the state&#8217;s next governor in 2026 when Governor Ron DeSantis will finish his final term in office.
Casey DeSantis made the remarks during National Review Institute’s Ideas Summit following weeks of speculation that she may run.
“Well, first of all, I mean, this guy’s the GOAT [Greatest Of All-Time],&#8221; she said, referring to her husband. &#8220;Like, honestly, everything that he says he’s gonna do, he does. And I’m just sitting here listening to him, and he makes it sound really easy. ‘Like, I did this, and I did this, and we did this, and now our voter registration is 1.2 million Republicans more than Democrats, and we did this, and we turned the vote,’ and all of this stuff.&#8221;
&#8220;Florida’s the free state of Florida because you’ve got the GOAT in the governor’s office because of one key thing: Having a backbone,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;And when you have the opportunity to stand up for what’s right, you’re courageous and you put yourself into the arena, and you fight like heck. And I’ll tell you what, I’ve been around politics, and I’ve seen a lot of people. Not a lot of people have a backbone like him.&#8221;
She said that the people she has seen get into political office often do so because &#8220;they wanna be somebody.&#8221;
&#8220;They don’t wanna do good things, they don’t wanna get criticized,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They like the cocktail parties. You know, they think about what’s next on the next political rung in their career. Like the Founders never thought that politics should ever have been a career, right? You were supposed to go up and serve, and you come home, and you live under the laws that you pass.&#8221;
She warned that many of the victories that DeSantis scored for the conservative movement could be easily ruined if the wrong person were to wind up getting elected to be the state&#8217;s next governor.
&#8220;So it’s the long-winded answer of saying, you know, we’ll see,&#8221; she said on the matter of whether she will run for office. &#8220;We’ll see.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/CaseyDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CaseyDeSantis</a>: &quot;We&#39;ll See.&quot;
👀👀👀 <a href="https://t.co/By0XgPt18S">pic.twitter.com/By0XgPt18S</a>
&mdash; NR Institute (@NR_Institute) <a href="https://twitter.com/NR_Institute/status/1903118899089969556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ron-and-casey-desantis-golf-eat-with-trump-amid-speculation-she-is-preparing-bid-for-governor">Ron And Casey DeSantis Golf, Eat With Trump Amid Speculation She Is Preparing Bid For Governor</a>

Ron DeSantis Campaigns For President Across Iowa

Casey DeSantis Weighs In On Launching Bid For Florida Governor

Casey DeSantis

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