Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is facing a primary challenge on Tuesday, marking a key moment in former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) effort to exact revenge on the Republicans who ousted him nearly a year ago. Gaetz, who led the charge to remove McCarthy from his position, is the last of these Republicans to face a primary this year, and McCarthy has made it clear he holds strong animosity towards him.
The tension between the two was evident at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month, where Gaetz taunted McCarthy for not having a speaking slot. McCarthy chose to ignore Gaetz at the event but later highlighted the ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz, which includes allegations of a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl—claims Gaetz has vehemently denied.
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These allegations, along with dissatisfaction over Gaetz's role in McCarthy's ousting, have fueled efforts to unseat him in Florida's heavily Republican panhandle district, which he has represented since 2017.
Aaron Dimmock, a retired naval officer and leadership consultant, entered the race against Gaetz at the last minute, motivated by concerns about Gaetz's political actions and the misconduct allegations. Dimmock had to scramble to make it onto the ballot, including changing travel plans and rushing to meet the filing deadline.
While Dimmock claims to have never spoken to McCarthy, he expressed frustration with Gaetz’s role in removing McCarthy and the lingering misconduct allegations. However, Dimmock faces a tough battle, as Gaetz has raised nearly $5.7 million compared to Dimmock's $336,675. The Gaetz family is influential in the area, with Gaetz's father, Don Gaetz, a former president of the Florida Senate, also running for the state legislature this year.
Dimmock's campaign has received support from a newly formed super PAC with ties to McCarthy allies, which has spent over $3 million on the race, including harsh ads focusing on the allegations against Gaetz. Despite this support, Dimmock trails significantly in the polls, with Gaetz leading by a wide margin according to a July poll.
Gaetz has countered Dimmock’s campaign by accusing him of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and questioning his work credentials, which Dimmock has denied. Dimmock has also defended his continued employment with the state of Missouri, explaining that he needs the income to support his family.
High-profile figures, including billionaire GOP donors and former Vice President Dan Quayle, are backing Dimmock, but Gaetz has brought in his own heavy hitters, including several hard-right members of Congress, to support his campaign.
This primary is seen as the final chapter in McCarthy's "revenge tour" against those who moved to oust him. While McCarthy has had mixed success in these efforts, this race will determine whether Gaetz, a key figure in McCarthy's ouster, can survive the challenge.
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