Matt Gaetz, son of State Sen. Don Gaetz, narrowly defeated former Destin Mayor Craig Barker by margin of 634 votes. Gaetz won the Republican primary thanks to a huge lead in early and absentee voting. Barker actually beat Gaetz in Okaloosa County, which makes up most of this district. Gaetz, however, trounced Barker in Santa County.
Okaloosa…..Barker: 5,239; Gaetz: 5,140; Gravie: 545; Melvin: 657; Woods: 1,404
Santa Rosa..Barker: 434; Gaetz: 1,168; Gravie: 60; Melvin: 71; Woods: 124
Totals
Matt Gaetz: 6,308 (42.5%)
Craig Barker: 5,673 (38.2%)
Kabe Woods: 1,528 (10.3%)
Jerry Melvin: 728 (4.9%)
Bill Garvie: 605 (4.1%)
Read NW Florida Daily News coverage.
Popularity: 2% [?]
[...] Gaetz wins primary. Matt Gaetz has won the Republican primary in the special election to fill the Florida House District 4 seat vacated by Ray Sansom. The district is heavily Republican, so Mr. Gaetz will not have any problems defeating Democrat Jan Fernald on April 13. See also the Northwest Florida Daily News‘ coverage. [...]