In Florida House District 87, emily gregory is on the ballot Tuesday against Republican Jon Maples in a Special Election shaped by a simple reality: the seat has been vacant for seven months, leaving residents without representation after former state Rep. Mike Caruso resigned in August to become Palm Beach County’s Clerk and Comptroller.
What is happening in HD 87, and why does the vacancy matter?
Voters across a Palm Beach County district that runs up the coast through Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno Beach, and Hypoluxo are choosing who will take a legislative seat left empty since August. The vacancy itself became a defining issue in the race. Nearly two months passed before Gov. Ron DeSantis called the election in late October. Gregory responded with a lawsuit, arguing that voters were being denied representation.
The lawsuit became moot once the election was scheduled, but the delay carried consequences: residents had no voice in Tallahassee during the 2026 Legislative Session. In a district accustomed to having a state representative, the absence turned into a campaign argument about urgency, accountability, and how quickly state power responds when a local seat goes dark.
How do Emily Gregory and Jon Maples differ as candidates?
The contest pits Democrat emily gregory, a 40-year-old first-time candidate, against Republican Jon Maples, a 43-year-old financial planner and former Lake Clarke Shores Council member. Maples has presented himself as closely aligned with Republican priorities at both the state and national levels, emphasizing local government experience and community involvement. He has held leadership roles with Families First of Palm Beach County and other civic organizations.
Maples’ stated platform centers on cutting taxes and government spending, reducing regulatory burdens, expanding private-sector job growth, and advancing school choice policies. He has also embraced a broader GOP push to eliminate or significantly reduce property taxes. On education, he has sought to draw contrasts with Gregory, particularly around teachers’ unions.
The political terrain is challenging for Democrats. HD 87 has trended reliably Republican in recent cycles. Caruso won re-election by 19 percentage points in 2024, and President Donald Trump carried the district by roughly 9 points. Still, the dynamics of a special election—especially one following a prolonged vacancy—can sharpen voter attention on process, responsiveness, and who is best positioned to restore representation.
What money, endorsements, and questions are shaping the final stretch?
Maples heads into Election Day with a significant financial and institutional advantage. Through mid-February, he raised $290, 000 in outside contributions, added to $14, 000 in self-loans through his campaign account and political committee, Friends of Jon Maples. His total haul later grew to $440, 000, and POLITICO noted his spending on digital and TV ads nearly topped $100, 000. He also received roughly $184, 000 in in-kind assistance from the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee.
His endorsements reflect that support. President Donald Trump, Attorney General James Uthmeier, and multiple GOP state lawmakers—including Florida Speaker-designate Sam Garrison and state Reps. Anne Gerwig, Jon Snyder, and “MAGA” Meg Weinberger—are backing Maples. Additional endorsements include Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Mimi May and former state Rep. MaryLynn Magar.
In the race’s closing weeks, Maples faced questions about residency. Reporting this month noted his listed home sits outside HD 87 and that he registered to vote at an in-district apartment in January. Maples has said that he and his family recently bought and moved into a new home in Jupiter within the district’s bounds. Under Florida law, candidates must live in the district they seek to represent by the time they are sworn in, which in this case is expected between April 1 and April 4.
Both candidates reached this point after decisive primary wins in January, each securing more than 80% of the vote in their respective contests. Now, the choice returns to the district’s voters—across Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno Beach, Hypoluxo, and the communities between them—after months of waiting for a chance to fill a seat that has sat empty.
