--- title: "Valimont vs. Patronis: 2026 Florida’s 1st District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-01" updated: "2026-08-19" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Florida’s 1st District race: Gay Valimont (D) vs. Jimmy Patronis (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 19, 2026 Florida's 1st Congressional District general election features incumbent Republican Representative Jimmy Patronis facing Democratic challenger Gay Valimont on November 3, 2026. Patronis took office in April 2025 after winning a special election to succeed Matt Gaetz and secured the 2026 Republican nomination with 71.2% of the primary vote on August 18, 2026. ## Candidates - **Gay Valimont** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.gayforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) - **Jimmy Patronis** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://joinjimmy.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jimmy_Patronis) ## Issues ### Environment, Energy & Corporate Governance Salience: high Patronis actively combats ESG financial standards and green investment mandates, while Valimont calls for public investments in clean energy infrastructure and climate resilience. **Gay Valimont:** Supports clean energy and climate resilience Valimont supports federal investments in clean energy infrastructure and coastal protection measures to combat climate change. She focuses on preserving public lands, protecting clean water, and securing flood control funding for Florida's coastlines. - Invest in clean energy infrastructure and conserve public lands - Enforce water regulations to prevent coastal and river pollution - Fund climate resilience, flood control, and disaster mitigation for coastal military bases and communities **Jimmy Patronis:** Opposes ESG policies and green mandates Patronis strongly opposes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, describing them as anti-democratic and harmful to investors. As Florida CFO, he initiated the divestment of $2 billion in state treasury assets from BlackRock and opposed federal appointments aligned with climate-focused financial regulation. - Divested $2 billion in Florida Treasury assets from BlackRock over its ESG policies - Opposed Morningstar investment ratings targeting Israel-connected firms - Opposed Federal Reserve nominees advocating for climate-based banking regulations > “CFO Patronis made it a top priority to combat Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards when investing taxpayer dollars.” > — Jimmy Patronis, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jimmy_Patronis) > “I think it's undemocratic of major asset managers to use their power to influence societal outcomes.” > — Jimmy Patronis, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jimmy_Patronis) ### Gun Policy & Public Safety Salience: high Valimont campaigns on implementing universal background checks and red flag laws, whereas Patronis is an NRA member who opposes new gun restrictions. **Gay Valimont:** Supports stricter gun control laws As a former grassroots leader for Moms Demand Action, Valimont treats gun violence as a critical public health crisis. She advocates for universal background checks, red flag laws, and stricter enforcement against domestic abusers. - Enact universal background checks on all firearm sales - Expand Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Laws) - Enforce provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to close the boyfriend loophole - Invest in community-based violence prevention initiatives > “Gun violence is a deadly public health crisis that demands action.” > — Gay Valimont, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) > “Universal Background Checks on ALL gun sales to close existing loopholes and ensure every sale includes a thorough background check” > — Gay Valimont, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) **Jimmy Patronis:** Supports Second Amendment rights Patronis is a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and supports gun rights, taking legislative actions aligned with law enforcement and public safety priorities. - Maintains membership in the National Rifle Association (NRA) - Voted Yea on H.R.875 to make driving under the influence grounds for deportation or inadmissibility ### Voting Rights & Election Administration Salience: high Valimont advocates for automatic voter registration and federal voting rights protections, while Patronis voted for strict mandatory proof of citizenship to register to vote. **Gay Valimont:** Supports expanding access and term limits Valimont advocates for expanding voter registration methods and strengthening federal voter protections. She also supports reform measures such as campaign finance restrictions and congressional term limits. - Strengthen the Voting Rights Act and reform campaign finance laws - Establish automatic universal voter registration, same-day registration, and online registration - Implement congressional term limits of 4 terms for the House and 2 terms for the Senate > “A thriving democracy is built on the principle that every eligible citizen's voice should be heard.” > — Gay Valimont, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) **Jimmy Patronis:** Supports stricter voter identification rules Patronis supports voter identification measures to protect election integrity. In the 119th Congress, he voted in favor of requiring citizenship verification for federal voter registration. - Voted Yea on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal election registration ### Veterans & Military Affairs Salience: medium Valimont presents detailed policy commitments including building a full VA hospital in the district, whereas Patronis highlights endorsements from veteran organizations. **Gay Valimont:** Supports expanded veteran healthcare and services Valimont focuses heavily on supporting the military population in Florida's 1st District. Her platform includes expanding veteran healthcare options, combating veteran homelessness, and securing funding for a full VA hospital in the district. - Secure federal funding for a full VA hospital in District 1 - Provide comprehensive mental healthcare and accessible choices for veterans - Improve G.I. Bill benefits and assist transitions to civilian careers - Provide transitional housing and supportive services to address veteran homelessness > “We must and will protect our military and veterans.” > — Gay Valimont, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) **Jimmy Patronis:** Supports military and veteran organizations Patronis maintains strong ties with veteran advocacy groups and earned the endorsement of Veterans for America First during his congressional campaign. - Endorsed by Veterans for America First in his 2025 special election campaign ### Economy & Government Spending Salience: medium Patronis backs Republican fiscal reconciliation packages and cryptocurrency regulation, while Valimont favors government incentives for affordable housing and support for labor unions. **Gay Valimont:** Supports affordable housing and labor rights Valimont seeks to reduce living costs by expanding affordable housing, supporting labor unions, and addressing wage inequality. She supports legislation designed to protect renters and reduce racial gaps in homeownership. - Incentivize affordable housing construction and expand rental assistance - Support the Place to Prosper Act to curb rent increases and prevent source-of-income discrimination - Support labor unions, equal pay legislation, and closing the gender pay gap **Jimmy Patronis:** Supports fiscal conservatism and deregulation Patronis aligns with conservative economic policies, supporting federal budget constraints, regulatory framework for digital assets, and tax modifications. In Congress, he consistently voted for Republican budget resolutions and reconciliation measures. - Voted Yea on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1 reconciliation package) - Voted Yea on establishing the FY2025 federal budget resolution (H.Con.Res.14) - Voted Yea on the GENIUS Act (S.1582) to establish a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins ### Immigration & Border Security Salience: medium Patronis supports legislative mandates to deport undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes like DUIs, whereas Valimont emphasizes passing bipartisan border security legislation. **Gay Valimont:** Supports bipartisan border security solutions Valimont expresses support for bipartisan solutions to secure the border, criticizing congressional inaction and partisan division. - Advocates for bipartisan legislation to address border security challenges > “She believes there are bipartisan solutions to many problems that face Americans, like border security, that the current Congress is incapable of doing.” > — Gay Valimont, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) **Jimmy Patronis:** Supports stricter enforcement and deportation penalties Patronis supports strict immigration enforcement measures, voting in favor of bills that penalize undocumented immigrants convicted of specific offenses. - Voted Yea on H.R.875 to make driving while impaired grounds for deportation or denial of entry for undocumented residents ### Healthcare & Reproductive Rights Salience: high Valimont favors expanding federal programs like Medicaid and protecting abortion rights, whereas Patronis has no documented positions on healthcare in the provided campaign materials. **Gay Valimont:** Supports universal healthcare and abortion rights Valimont advocates for universal, affordable, quality healthcare and protecting reproductive freedoms. Drawing from personal experience caretaking for her late husband and son, she pledges to expand Medicaid, protect Medicare, defend the Affordable Care Act, and lower prescription drug costs. - Defend the Affordable Care Act, protect Medicare, and expand Medicaid - Lower prescription drug costs and ensure equal access to physical and mental healthcare - Protect access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare and the right to choose > “Universal, affordable, quality health care must be a priority.” > — Gay Valimont, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) > “Every person should have access to the care they need without wondering if they can afford to save their own life or the life of a loved one.” > — Gay Valimont, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_Valimont) **Jimmy Patronis:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/fl-01-house-election-winner) — FL-01 House Election Winner: Republicans 96.9%, Democrats 3.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-FL01-26) — FL-01 House winner?: Jimmy Patronis 96.4%, Gay Valimont 2.7% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXFLPRIMARY-01R26) — FL-01 Republican nominee?: Jimmy Patronis 99.0%, Douglas C Chico 4.0%, John Frankman 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-01)