Today’s episode with campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Florida, the field of candidates is now ready for the state’s two upcoming special congressional elections. One will fill the vacancy left by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, while the other will fill the upcoming vacancy left by incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Waltz, who is joining the Trump administration. The special elections are scheduled for April 1.
* On that note, Gaetz has apparently found his first post-congressional job: The scandal-plagued Floridian will soon begin hosting a program on a far-right channel called One America News Network (OAN).
* According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, which has not been independently verified by other news organizations, Donald Trump spoke with Governor Ron DeSantis about Lara Trump and the upcoming U.S. Senate vacancy in Florida. It will be up to the Republican governor to choose a successor if Senator Marco Rubio is confirmed as the next Secretary of State, which is extremely likely.
* On a related note, as Lara Trump steps down from her position at the Republican National Committee, RNC Treasurer KC Crosbie has reportedly told her colleagues that she wants to succeed Trump as co-chair of the party.
* The president-elect has already endorsed Crosbie, suggesting she will face no credible intraparty opposition.
* Last month, Florida state Rep. Susan Valdes asked local voters to re-elect her as a Democrat. After winning the race, she became a Republican, expanding the Republican Party’s already massive supermajority in the House.
* A day later, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, who helps lead a border county that includes Laredo, also switched to the Republican Party in Texas. He made the announcement about his new party affiliation during an appearance on Fox News.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
