Who is Gay Valimont? Democrat seeks to shock political world in April 1 special election

USA Today

02-04-2025

Gay Valimont is hoping to do something in the special election on April 1 that no Democrat has done in Northwest Florida in 33 years – win an election to Congress.
Valimont is the Democratic candidate in the special election to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz when he resigned as part of his failed bid to become U.S. Attorney General.
Valimont has touted unprecedented fundraising numbers for a Democratic candidate in the most conservative area of Florida thanks to national outcry from Democrats at the actions of President Donald Trump's new administration.
Who is Gay Valimont?
Valimont decided to enter the 2024 race against Matt Gaetz for Congress after the tragic loss of both her husband and her 9-year-old son just seven months apart. Her husband, Brian, was diagnosed with ALS, and her son, Eli, was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. Eli died in September 2021 at 9 years old, and Brian died in April 2022 at the age of 45.
Valimont was born and raised in Thomaston, Georgia, and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor's degree in health and exercise science. She went on to get a master's in education from Troy State University. She went into sports medicine in Atlanta, working with predominantly Black high schools in the area and with the Atlanta Falcons.
Valimont moved to Gulf Breeze after marrying Brian in 2012 and she became a stay-at-home mom and volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. By 2016, she was leader of the Florida chapter as engagement with the group had grown by more than 400%. In 2019, her family moved to Naples and later to New Orleans. But after Eli and Brian's deaths, Valimont decided to come back to Northwest Florida.
"Our most beautiful years were right here," Valimont told the USA TODAY Florida Network last year. "So I sat on the beach for six months, and I didn't know what I was going to do with my life."
At least not until May 2023, when Gaetz filed a federal stand-your-ground bill in the House. When Valimont learned of the bill, her decision to run was made.
"I knew there was nobody better to fight it than me," she said.
Valimont's run for Congress
Valimont's run against Gaetz in 2024 ended with a loss by 33-points. But with the announcement of Gaetz stepping down and a special election being called, Valimont told supporters at a recent Pensacola town hall she knew she would run again.
'We'd barely turn the lights off before we started up again,' Valimont said. 'We practiced already for 12 months, so we already had everything in place.'
Florida special election 2025: Gay Valimont tells supporters she's raised $6.7 million to flip Matt Gaetz seat blue
Now she is running against the Republican candidate, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who is still very much the favorite in the conservative district.
Valimont has criticized Patronis' role as Florida's chief financial officer who oversees the state's insurance industry.
'Under his purview is the entire insurance crisis that has happened in Florida,' Valimont said. 'It falls solely at his feet, and the reason he was given this opportunity to run here is because it's such a red district, and nobody would question. What we have to do everybody is question what Jimmy Patronis has done to us and why he thinks he can come in here, purchase this seat, and go to Washington and use us as a stepping stone.'
Who is Jimmy Patronis? Florida CFO seeks to seat in Congress in April 1 special election
Valimont said she will go to Congress and tell both Democrats and Republicans that the public does not like what's been done in the first two months of the Trump administration.
'We have to do something big, and we have to do it now,' Valimont said.
During the town hall, Valimont was also asked questions about more traditional Democratic positions like gun control. Valimont said she doesn't support taking anyone's guns but believes there should be background checks required even for person-to-person transactions.
Valimont was also asked about her position on women's reproductive rights. The woman who asked the question shared a story that she had a pregnancy with a terminally ill baby. Her doctor warned her to call her if she appeared to be losing the baby while it still had a heartbeat because there was another doctor at the hospital who might refuse to help her if the baby had a heartbeat.
Valimont came down from the stage and hugged the woman before answering.
'That story is both horrible and too normal these days,' Valimont said. 'Since the six-week abortion ban went into effect, we've had lots of women come to us and say they're scared to get pregnant.'
Valimont said doctors and the state should be held accountable for the woman's situation, but she said she didn't expect much movement on the issue in the next few years.
'What I can tell you is, under this administration, we may not see an opportunity to fix it,' Valimont said. 'But we can also, under this administration, not do anything worse.'
Valimont said the district has one of the highest number of veteran populations in the country, and she can't believe Republicans aren't speaking out against the cuts being made to the Veterans Administration.
'I'm running against somebody that has zero platform other than he supports Donald Trump,' Valimont said. 'It's his thing, and he says that veterans support him. Now, if he supports Donald Trump and the cuts to the VA, I cannot imagine one veteran that would support him.'
USA TODAY NETWORK Florida reporter Collin Bestor contributed to this report.