Jimmy Patronis
Jimmy Patronis served as Florida's Chief Financial Officer before winning the April 1, 2025 special election to replace Matt Gaetz in the 1st District, defeating Gay Valimont 57% to 42%. He won the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary over Douglas Chico and John Frankman with roughly 72-75% of the vote (unofficial), setting up a November rematch with Valimont. He was endorsed by President Trump for the 2026 race. In the House he voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the SAVE Act (Florida's Voice; congress.gov).
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with ~72-75% over Douglas Chico and John Frankman (WEAR-TV: https://weartv.com/news/local/patronis-wins-florida-district-1-primary-sets-up-rematch-with-valimont ; WJHG: https://www.wjhg.com/2026/08/19/2026-florida-primary-election-patronis-heads-november-ballot-facing-valimont/)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $4,467,313, spent $3,527,838, cash on hand $939,474; $3,615,971 from individual donors, $671,300 from PACs, $12,000 from the candidate. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2026-08. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →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.
Taxes & spending Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted for H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) in 2025, which extended the 2017 individual tax cuts and created new deductions (tips, overtime) while reducing projected federal spending on Medicaid and SNAP. In his statement he said the bill would 'cement into law tax cuts for Americans across the board' and praised the elimination of federal income tax on tips and overtime.
"will cement into law tax cuts for Americans across the board, hold the federal government accountable through fiscal responsibility, strengthen our borders to keep Americans safe"
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which his office described as securing the border with $175 billion, 'the largest border security investment in history'; also voted for the SAVE Act. Mid Bay News reported he defended the administration's border-enforcement positions in interviews but declined follow-up questions about due-process criticisms.
Health care Strongly disagrees· stated position
In a July 2025 WEAR-TV interview cited by Mid Bay News, Patronis defended Florida's decision not to expand Medicaid, saying the program must stay focused on 'seniors, disabled, women, children' and that 'waste, fraud, and abuse' threatens its viability. He voted for H.R. 1, which added Medicaid work-reporting requirements.
"seniors, disabled, women, children"
Elections & voting Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (April 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections; coded as supporting a new voting requirement rather than easing access.
Crime & policing Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
Energy & utilities Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which phased out most Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits and expanded oil and gas leasing.
Tariffs & trade Strongly agrees· stated position
In his statement after the 2026 State of the Union, Patronis said he backs 'pro-American tariffs' to revitalize domestic industry.
Trump administration Strongly agrees· stated position
Received President Trump's 'Complete and Total Endorsement' for 2026 and has issued statements praising the administration's agenda, including thanking the President for 'holding Big Tech accountable' and calling H.R. 1 a 'Big, Beautiful Victory for America.'
No public position found on 9 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Abortion, Guns, Social Security & Medicare, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Gender identity laws, Ukraine, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Big Tech and data centers — Thanked President Trump for 'holding Big Tech accountable' and for protecting electricity ratepayers from subsidizing data centers; discussed Big Tech in a Mid Bay News interview.
- Special Operations relocation — Demanded answers from the Pentagon about a possible relocation of special-operations units from the Emerald Coast.
- F-35 program, housing and daycare near bases — As a candidate, discussed support for the F-35 program at Eglin and addressed affordable housing and daycare shortages for military families in Niceville.
- No tax on tips and overtime — Highlighted, as a former restaurateur, the H.R. 1 provisions eliminating federal income tax on tips and overtime pay.
- Veterans — Maintains an official veterans issue page; specific proposals were not captured in searches.
- Criticized reported FBI monitoring of Susie Wiles' calls with Trump's legal team — After the New York Post reported that former Attorney General Merrick Garland authorized monitoring of Susie Wiles' phone conversations with President Trump's legal team during the 2024 campaign, Patronis said the Justice Department had pursued the President and called it an abuse of the justice system.
- Hurricane Isaias response (district took the hardest hit) — Patronis appeared at pre-storm briefings in Pensacola and post-storm briefings in Destin with Sen. Rick Scott, warned residents not to sign contractor paperwork before contacting insurers, said his office is helping people with FEMA and insurance claims, and said delegation members are seeking a higher federal reimbursement share. On Oct. 16 he thanked Gov. DeSantis for requesting a major disaster declaration and publicized IRS filing extensions to Feb. 8, 2027.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Won April 2025 special election for FL-1 with 57% over Gay Valimont (42%).
- Voted for H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (House passage May 22, 2025; final passage July 3, 2025, 218-214).
- Voted for H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (April 10, 2025, 220-208), requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration.
- Mid Bay News (Oct. 7, 2025) reported that his office declined follow-up questions on health care, immigration enforcement and congressional transparency, and that he did not join Republican colleagues in signing the discharge petition to force a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein-related records.
- Patronis was not among the 18 House Republicans listed as voting for the June 4, 2026 Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions bill, which passed 226-195 over the objections of House GOP leadership and the Trump administration (individual 'no' vs. 'not voting' status not confirmed in searches).
- Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), the 2025 bill requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that made the 2017 tax cuts permanent and added new deductions while cutting Medicaid and food-assistance spending.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that added Medicaid work requirements and eligibility checks projected to reduce coverage.
- Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
- Voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, a War Powers Resolution directing the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran (Roll Call 307, Sept. 15, 2026; agreed to 220-204).
- Voted Yea on the motion to table H.Res. 1486, a resolution impeaching President Trump (Roll Call 298, Sept. 15, 2026; tabled 232-147 with 47 voting present). A Yea vote set the resolution aside; a Nay vote would have kept it before the House.
- Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 210 and Yea on H.J.Res. 213, Congressional Review Act resolutions disapproving EPA authorizations of California's at-berth ocean-going vessel and commercial harbor craft diesel-emission rules (Roll Calls 306 and 311, Sept. 15-16, 2026; passed 216-211 and 214-208).
- Filed the House companion to the Scott-Moody Protecting Florida’s Offshore Military Readiness Act (Oct. 9, 2026), which would stop new oil and gas activity in the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range while leaving existing leases in place.
- Co-signed the Moody-Buchanan letter asking the Department of War to increase Florida's National Guard allocation after Hurricane Isaias.
- Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), the budget reconciliation law that extended the 2017 tax cuts, added Medicaid work requirements, reduced clean-energy tax credits and funded expanded immigration enforcement.
Endorsements (as reported)
- President Donald Trump ('Complete and Total Endorsement', 2026)