The Florida Teacher Who Turned “MAGA Meg’s” District Blue

Public school teacher Elizabeth Holmes defeated Trump-backed Republican Meg Weinberger in Florida’s 94th House district, helping Democrats break the state legislature’s Republican supermajority. Her victory matters as a sign of Democratic gains in Florida, including in Palm Beach County, which Donald Trump calls home.

Holmes entered politics after a Facebook post about low teacher pay went viral and brought her to the attention of a Democratic candidate-recruiting group. She campaigned on the cost of living, support for teachers and opposition to overdevelopment, while criticising Weinberger’s proposals to name local sites after Trump; Holmes won by fewer than three percentage points. The article says about 17 Democrats flipped Florida House seats, while Democrats nationwide flipped 549 Republican-held state legislative seats.