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U.S. House, District 1

Gay Valimont

DemocraticGun-violence-prevention activist (Ballotpedia); Democratic nominee for FL-1 in 2024, the April 2025 special election and 2026Pensacola, Escambia County (Ballotpedia)

Gay Valimont is a gun-violence-prevention activist based in Pensacola (Ballotpedia). She was the Democratic nominee for the 1st District in November 2024 and in the April 2025 special election, receiving 42% against Jimmy Patronis. She ran unopposed in the Aug. 18, 2026 Democratic primary and faces Patronis again in November. Her campaign lists health care, veterans' care, insurance costs, reproductive rights and gun safety as priorities.

How they got on the ballot: Unopposed in Aug 18, 2026 Democratic primary (WEAR-TV: https://weartv.com/news/local/patronis-wins-florida-district-1-primary-sets-up-rematch-with-valimont)

Positions on the major issues

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Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.

Abortion Strongly agrees· stated position

Statement: "Abortion should be legal in most cases (Florida's six-week ban should be repealed or loosened)."

Says she supports access to comprehensive reproductive health care and the right to choose, and would vote to restore abortion rights in federal law.

"I will always protect our RIGHT TO CHOOSE and when I get to Congress, we will make it law again."

Guns Strongly agrees· stated position

Statement: "Gun laws should be stricter (keep the red-flag law and the age-21 purchase rule; expand background checks) rather than looser (permitless or open carry, lower purchase age)."

A gun-violence-prevention activist by occupation, she says she is 'fighting for commonsense gun safety.'

"commonsense gun safety"

Health care Leans agree· stated position

Statement: "Government should expand its role in health coverage (expand Medicaid in Florida, extend Affordable Care Act subsidies)."

Says she will focus on 'lowering insurance costs, expanding healthcare access' and protecting VA health care; specific positions on Medicaid expansion or ACA subsidies were not found.

"lowering insurance costs, expanding healthcare access"

Social Security & Medicare Strongly agrees· stated position

Statement: "Social Security and Medicare benefits must be protected from any cuts, even if that requires more revenue."

Her priorities page says she will oppose 'any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and VA benefits'; Ballotpedia notes she has criticized Sen. Rick Scott's proposals affecting those programs.

"opposing any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and VA benefits"

Veterans Strongly agrees· stated position

Statement: "Expanding VA services and veterans' benefits should be a top priority."

Calls for a full-service VA hospital in Northwest Florida, full VA funding, clearing the claims backlog and expanded Tricare coverage.

"Northwest Florida's veterans deserve top-tier healthcare close to home"
No public position found on 12 issues

We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Housing affordability, Immigration, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Elections & voting, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Energy & utilities, Tariffs & trade, Ukraine, Trump administration. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.

Positions on issues outside this office's scope (1)

Property insurance Leans agree· stated position

Statement: "The state should intervene more directly in the property-insurance market (rate caps, expanding Citizens, stricter insurer regulation) rather than relying mainly on market-based reforms."

Says Florida homeowners pay the highest insurance rates in the country and that she would push for federal legislation to cut rates by at least 25%; this is a federal proposal rather than a position on state-level regulation.

Other issues this candidate has raised

  • Full-service VA hospital for Northwest Florida — Says she will fight to deliver a full-service VA hospital so veterans can get care close to home.
  • Homeowner insurance relief — Supports federal legislation to cut homeowner insurance rates by at least 25%.
  • Tricare expansion and VA claims backlog — Would push for full VA funding and expanded Tricare coverage to shorten waits.
  • Term limits — Ballotpedia lists term limits among her key campaign messages, alongside health care, education, veterans affairs and foreign policy.

Record: votes, actions and documented facts

  • Democratic nominee in FL-1 in November 2024 and in the April 1, 2025 special election (42% vs. Patronis 57%).
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