Ron DeSantis starts special election for GOP House seat not yet vacant
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has ordered a special election for Rep. Mike Waltz's (R-FL) House seat even though the lawmaker has not yet resigned.
Waltz confirmed to reporters Monday he would resign on Jan. 20 to become President-elect Donald Trump's national security advisor.
Although Waltz had not yet resigned, DeSantis signed an order on Monday to kick off the special election process.
Under the timeline released by the Florida Department of State, early voting for the 6th Congressional District primary would begin two days before Waltz's resignation becomes official. The general election was scheduled to take place on April 1.
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The special election for a House seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was also set for April 1.
"How does Florida start special elections for House seats that aren't vacant for weeks, you ask?" Punchbowl News co-founder John Bresnahan wondered in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "Because they just did."
The rushed special elections come as Republicans are set to hold a narrow majority in the House.