Florida State Senator Randy Fine has announced his candidacy for the U.S. House seat vacated by Rep. Mike Waltz, who resigned to become President Trump's National Security Advisor. Waltz's departure, effective January 20, 2025, further shrinks the Republican majority in the House.
Image: Staff members prepare for the inauguration of President Trump at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via Reuters)
In his resignation letter, Waltz confirmed his intention to serve the remainder of his term in the 118th Congress before transitioning to his new role. He also notified Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of his resignation. The special election to fill the vacancy is scheduled for April.
Waltz's resignation comes at a challenging time for House Republicans, who are grappling with internal divisions on issues such as government spending and loyalty to Trump. These disagreements were evident during the recent election of House Speaker Mike Johnson and the contentious spending bill passed in December to avoid a government shutdown.
Image: House Speaker Mike Johnson addresses reporters on Capitol Hill. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Image: Mike Waltz during his service in Afghanistan. (Mike Waltz)
Trump selected Waltz, a former Green Beret with experience in both the White House and Pentagon, for the National Security Advisor position in the fall of 2024. Trump commended Waltz's extensive military service, including multiple combat deployments and four Bronze Stars, two of which were awarded for valor.
