Republicans win special elections for two key House seats in Florida

Randy Fine beats Josh Weil in Mike Waltz's former district, and Jimmy Patronis wins seat vacated by Matt Gaetz

Republicans on Tuesday won special elections for two US House of Representatives seats in Florida vacated by Donald Trump's cabinet nominees, dashing Democratic hopes for an upset victory in the first federal special elections held since the president began his second term.

But Democratic candidates Josh Weil and Gay Valimont are on track to lose the solidly red districts by much smaller margins than the more than 30 points that Democrats lost them by in November.