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

Donald Trump

Florida

House of Representatives

Randy Fine

The GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> are pressing ahead with tax and budget legislation to implement President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s second-term agenda.
The Senate is going with a two-step approach, with one focused on certain priorities such as border security, and the second dealing with tax break extensions, according to the <a href="https://www.kktv.com/2025/02/07/house-gop-rushing-produce-trumps-big-budget-bill-with-tax-cuts-program-cuts-other-promises/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>.
Senate Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/hearings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scheduled</a> meetings this week to consider what is <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2025-02-09/us-house-speaker-to-pursue-one-big-bill-on-trumps-tax-agenda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> to be a $340 billion <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/chairman/newsroom/press/chairman-graham-unveils-fy-2025-budget-resolution-to-secure-the-border-revitalize-our-military-unleash-american-energy-production-and-begin-the-process-of-restoring-fiscal-sanity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plan</a>, which also tackles energy, the military, and spending.
Lawmakers plan to use the budget reconciliation process, which in the Senate requires only 51 votes to pass rather than 60, giving the GOP more breathing room with its 53-47 majority.
Before taking office, Trump <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/speaker-johnsons-push-pass-trumps-agenda-one-massive-bill-faces-big-hu-rcna186399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he wanted &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; but a week after his inauguration, he <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/one-bill-two-bills-i-dont-care-trump-promises-get-large-reconciliation-bill-passed-either-way" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> that he did not care if it ended up being split into two.
However, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is vying for a single bill, arguing on &#8220;Fox News Sunday&#8221; that it &#8220;gives us the highest probability of success of delivering&#8221; Trump&#8217;s campaign promises.
Johnson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkyf7-mOxME" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> anchor Shannon Bream there would be a budget markup this week, though he conceded that dealing with the GOP&#8217;s slim majority might take some time.
&#8220;I’ve got to make sure everyone agrees before we bring the project forward — that final product — and we&#8217;ve got a few more boxes to check, but we&#8217;re getting very, very close,&#8221; Johnson said.
In a post to X, Graham <a href="https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1887958553580675538" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that he hopes the House can &#8220;find a way forward on a bigger budget reconciliation bill&#8221; but stressed that the Senate &#8220;cannot allow&#8221; the moment to pass.
During a meeting at the White House last week, Trump laid out his administration&#8217;s &#8220;tax priorities&#8221; to House Republicans, his press secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karoline-leavitt-reveals-trump-admins-massive-tax-cut-priorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a>.
Leavitt listed them, including Trump&#8217;s proposals for no tax on tips, no tax on seniors&#8217; Social Security, no tax on overtime pay, and renewing the 2017 middle-class tax cuts.
She also mentioned adjusting the SALT deduction cap, eliminating tax breaks for billionaire sports team owners, closing the carried interest loophole, and tax cuts for products made in America.
&#8220;This will be the largest tax cut in history for middle-class working Americans,” Leavitt said. &#8220;The president is committed to working with Congress to get this done.&#8221;

Two Ways About It: House And Senate Chart Different Paths For Trump Budget Priorities And Tax Cuts

Congress

Lindsey Graham

Mike Johnson

Spending Bill

Taxes

U.S.

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

A trans-identifying member of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a> was confronted with &#8220;biological reality&#8221; in the U.S. Capitol last week.
Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), who was presiding over the House chamber on Thursday, called on Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) to speak.
&#8220;The chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride, for five minutes,&#8221; Miller said.
McBride, who identifies as a transgender woman, went on to speak critically of the Trump administration.
&#8220;I refused to deny biological reality,&#8221; Miller <a href="https://x.com/RepMaryMiller/status/1887573104609661188" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X. &#8220;Trump restored biological truth in the Federal Government.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today on the House Floor, I refused to deny biological reality. 
President Trump restored biological truth in the Federal Government, and I refuse to perpetuate the lie that gender is open to our interpretation. It is not. <a href="https://t.co/Rin6PWT68O">pic.twitter.com/Rin6PWT68O</a>
&mdash; Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMaryMiller/status/1887573104609661188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Miller was alluding to President Donald Trump taking <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-order-will-end-military-gender-insanity-ban-taxpayer-funded-gender-transitions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">actions</a> that are focused on gender during his second term.
&#8220;I refuse to perpetuate the lie that gender is open to our interpretation. It is not,&#8221; Miller added.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) <a href="https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1888053765812666688" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised</a> Miller in a post to X.
&#8220;I’m proud of my friend Mary Miller for refusing to recognize and speak the lie,&#8221; Greene said. &#8220;God will not be mocked.&#8221;
Katie Miller, a member of the DOGE team and wife to White House official Stephen Miller, also commented.
&#8220;You are not required to live in someone else’s simulation,&#8221; Katie Miller <a href="https://x.com/katierosemiller/status/1888283931633672316" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
On X, McBride <a href="https://x.com/SarahEMcBride/status/1888273599242387886" target="_blank" rel="noopener">encouraged</a> people to watch the remarks that followed the 15-second clip of Rep. Miller&#8217;s introduction.
&#8220;It was my first ever floor speech!&#8221; emphasized McBride, a first-term member of the House.
This is not the first stand taken by Republicans in the trans debate over the past few months since the 2024 election.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a resolution to ban trans-identifying men from women’s bathrooms or facilities on Capitol Hill.
The Daily Wire exclusively <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-second-nancy-mace-bill-would-ban-men-from-womens-facilities-on-all-federal-property" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Mace followed up with a similar measure that focused on all federal property.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) then <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sarah-mcbride-speaker-johnson-transgender-bathroom-f3943e1b3b2dc9c8d62d2ba6660aaf91" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> trans restroom restrictions in the U.S. Capitol and House office buildings.
McBride <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trans-identifying-congressman-agrees-not-to-use-female-bathrooms-after-johnson-brings-the-hammer-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreed</a> to abide by the directive while claiming it was an &#8220;effort to distract from the real issues&#8221; facing the country.
&#8220;I’m not here to fight about bathrooms,&#8221; McBride said. &#8220;I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families.&#8221;
McBride added: &#8220;Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson even if I disagree with them.&#8221;

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE)

Trans-Identifying Democrat Confronted With ‘Biological Reality,’ Introduced As ‘Gentleman’

Nancy Mace

Politics

Transgender

It took just over two weeks after Inauguration Day for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Democrats</a> to begin a push to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/impeachment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impeach</a> President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> in his second administration.
Rep. Al Green (D-TX) announced Wednesday that he was introducing articles of impeachment, citing the prospect of &#8220;ethnic cleansing&#8221; after Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-will-take-over-gaza-strip-trump-says-during-netanyahu-press-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> the United States take over Gaza.
&#8220;The movement to impeach the president has begun,&#8221; Green said. &#8220;I rise to announce that I will bring Articles of Impeachment against the president for dastardly deeds proposed and dastardly deeds done.&#8221;
During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump proposed that the United States would take over the Gaza Strip.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out,&#8221; Trump said.
He added the project would &#8220;create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job, do something different.&#8221;
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-will-take-over-gaza-strip-trump-says-during-netanyahu-press-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> by The Daily Wire, Trump mentioned earlier on Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with Netanyahu that he wanted to have the entire population of Gaza relocated — not killed.
&#8220;We’re talking about probably 1.7 million people,&#8221; Trump told reporters. &#8220;I think they’ll be resettled in areas where they can live a beautiful life and not be worried about dying every day.&#8221;
The Gaza Strip has been mired in a conflict between Israel and Hamas ever since the October 7 terror attack of 2023. Both sides <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hostage-and-ceasefire-deal-reached-between-hamas-and-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached</a> a hostage-and-ceasefire deal earlier this month.
Green is no stranger to proposing articles of impeachment against Trump. The congressman from the Houston area did so <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2019/07/17/al-greens-third-attempt-impeach-donald-trump-fails/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multiple times</a> during Trump&#8217;s first term but to no avail.
However, Trump did get impeached twice, just not on articles brought by Green. One dealt with Ukraine, and the other with January 6. Both efforts ended in acquittal by a GOP-led Senate.
Green&#8217;s latest bid to impeach Trump will likely be dismissed like those in the past, as the House and Senate are controlled by Republicans who are largely aligned with the president.
&#8220;Nobody cares,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon Musk</a>, who is leading <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/weekend-warrior-elon-musk-reveals-how-doge-is-cutting-billions-in-spending-every-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost-cutting efforts</a> in Trump&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency (<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-government-efficiency-doge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOGE</a>), <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1887168189777285425" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in response to a video of Green posted to X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Nobody cares <a href="https://t.co/norkwEJrcv">https://t.co/norkwEJrcv</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1887168189777285425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rep. Al Green

House Democrat Moves To Impeach Trump Over ‘Dastardly Deeds’

Gaza

House Democrats

Impeachment

Israel

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laken Riley</a>’s mother Allyson Phillips wept as she thanked President Donald Trump for keeping his promises and honoring the memory of her daughter with the passage of the “Laken Riley Act.”
During a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, Trump signed into law the bipartisan bill, written after Laken, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student, was killed in February of 2024 by an illegal alien. The bill requires federal officials to arrest non-citizens accused of violent and theft-related crimes in the United States, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-into-law">reported</a>.
Phillips and President Trump shared an embrace before she took to the podium and spoke emotionally about the passage of the act and her daughter’s legacy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Laken Riley’s mother weeps as she thanks President Trump for keeping his promises and honoring the memory of her daughter: <a href="https://t.co/HhxPIpmhzq">pic.twitter.com/HhxPIpmhzq</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1884689786323042517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
“Our family will forever be grateful for the prayers of the people across our nation and for helping to get this legislation into law,” Phillips’ <a href="https://x.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1884689786323042517">said</a>. “We also want to thank President Trump for the promises he made to us. He said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken.”
She then began to break down, tearing up as she described the president as a “man of his word” and said, “We trust that he will fight for the American people.”
“Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ because, without his sacrifices, Laken’s story would’ve ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us,” Allyson said through tears. “But because of Him, we can continue living knowing that we will see Laken again.”
“There is no amount of change that will ever bring back our precious Laken,” she added while trying to hold back tears. “Our hope, moving forward, is that her life saves lives.”
“We are so thankful that her passion for helping others and her legacy for doing good in the name of Jesus Christ will carry on,” Phillips continued. “Thank you.”
The immigration legislation was passed through both the GOP-led House and Senate with bipartisan support. It is the first <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5">bill</a> that Trump has signed into law during his nascent second term in the White House. Under the law, federal officials are directed to detain non-citizens charged with, convicted of, or who admit to theft-related or violent offenses. It also authorizes states to sue over federal immigration actions.
During the signing, Trump promised the family that “we will keep Laken’s memory alive in our hearts forever.”
“Everyone’s hearts,” he added. “With today’s action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country. And this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together — that’s not easy to do. Laken did it. Laken did it. America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley.”
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this piece.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-revamped-laken-riley-act-sends-bill-to-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Passes Revamped Laken Riley Act, Sends Bill To Trump</a>

Laken Riley Act

Laken Riley’s Mother Gives Tearful Remarks After Trump Signs Law Named For Late Daughter

Border Crisis

Illegal Immigation