Maples, Gregory Vie for Vacant Palm Beach House Seat in Special Election

Voters in Florida House District 87 head to the polls Tuesday to choose between Republican Jon Maples and Democrat Emily Gregory in a special election to fill a seat vacant for seven months. The gap left the Palm Beach County district without a voice in Tallahassee for the entire 2026 Legislative Session.

The district runs along the coast through Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno Beach and Hypoluxo. It lost its representation last August when Republican state Rep. Mike Caruso resigned to become Palm Beach County's Clerk and Comptroller. Nearly two months passed before Gov. Ron DeSantis called the election in late October — a delay that prompted Gregory to file suit, arguing voters were being denied representation. The lawsuit became moot once the election was scheduled.

Maples, a 43-year-old financial planner and former Lake Clarke Shores Council member, has run a campaign closely aligned with Republican priorities. He is focusing on cutting taxes and government spending, reducing regulations, expanding school choice, and eliminating or significantly reducing property taxes. He heads into Election Day with a substantial financial edge, raising $440,000 plus roughly $184,000 in in-kind support from the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee. His endorsers include former President Donald Trump, Attorney General James Uthmeier, and Florida Speaker-designate Sam Garrison.

Maples' campaign faced late scrutiny over his residency. Reports indicated his listed home sits outside HD 87 and that he registered to vote at an in-district apartment in January. He said he and his family recently purchased and moved into a new home in Jupiter within the district. Under Florida law, candidates must reside in their district only by the time they are sworn in, expected between April 1 and April 4.

Gregory, a 40-year-old Jupiter fitness center owner, Army spouse, and Stuart native, is running for office for the first time. Her campaign has centered on public education funding, health care access, and relief from rising property insurance and housing costs. Her total fundraising reached approximately $325,000, including in-kind support. Democrats have described HD 87 as a rare flip opportunity, though the district has trended sharply rightward. Trump's margin there grew from 0.1 percentage points in 2020 to 10.6 points in 2024.

Special elections typically draw lower turnout than general contests, a dynamic that can scramble predictions. Fewer than 10 percent of registered voters in HD 87 cast ballots in the January primary.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.