Florida's Republican chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis fended off a challenge by Democrat Gay Valimont to win Tuesday's special election for northwest Florida's 1st Congressional District, which President Donald Trump carried by about 37 points in November.

Patronis dominated votes in three of the four counties that make up the district, but Valimont won Escambia County where she had 51.18% of the vote with 77 of 80 precincts reporting. Turnout in Escambia County was 33%, higher than what the 25% election officials were expecting.

Republican Jimmy Patronis has won the special election to succeed former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Patronis, the outgoing chief financial officer of Florida, defeated Democrat Gay Valimont in the race for the seat that borders Alabama on the Gulf Coast in the westernmost part of the Florida panhandle.