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1st Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 1st District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R) ran against Democrat Gay Valimont and No Party Affiliation candidate Tyler L. Davis. With all 67 counties reporting statewide, Patronis leads by 78,294 votes. Results are unofficial until certified. Check your own address on the Florida Division of Elections' voter lookup to confirm your district.

Patronis leadsAll counties reporting; unofficial until certified1
62.56%Patronis (R): 181,7231
35.61%Valimont (D): 103,4291
1.83%Davis (NPA): 5,3221
78,294Vote margin of 290,474 cast1

Do they have a plan?

We read every issue on each candidate's own website and checked the same six things for every one. We count what's there. We don't grade whether the ideas are good. Read the full scoring rules

Of the issues on their website, how many...Tyler L. DavisJimmy PatronisGay Valimont
Names a policy3 of 5
No issues page on their site6 of 8
Says how they'd do it0 of 5
No issues page on their site0 of 8
Includes a number or target0 of 5
No issues page on their site2 of 8
Says how it's paid for0 of 5
No issues page on their site0 of 8
Gives a timeline0 of 5
No issues page on their site0 of 8
Points to a record0 of 5
No issues page on their site0 of 8

The candidates, side by side

Each topic shows every candidate's own words on it, in alphabetical order, from their own website. "Nothing on this topic" means their site doesn't cover it. Topic rows are grouped by us from their headings; the scores don't change.

Tyler L. DavisNo Party Affiliation
Jimmy PatronisRepublican
Gay ValimontDemocrat
Who they are
Tyler L. Davis
Not a career politician, by his own account.3 His How I'll Work For You page runs five sections (Education, Cost of Living & the Economy, Community Solutions, Military & Veteran Readiness, Government Transparency & Accountability) with dozens of sub-sections; each section was scored as one issue, using its best sub-section.
Jimmy Patronis
Rep. Jimmy Patronis, by his own site, which calls him "Congressman Jimmy Patronis" and says he won the district's special election.4 His campaign site has no issues page (Home, About, News and Volunteer only), so nothing is scored. His House office site was not scored.
Gay Valimont
Gun violence prevention activist and former Moms Demand Action Florida State Lead, by her own account. Ran in the 2025 special election for this seat and lost, per her site.7 Her Priorities page has eight headings; each was scored.
Immigration and the border
Tyler L. Davis
Nothing on this topic
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Fix Immigration The Right Way"Gay supports border security through better technology and more judges." Also: "creating a clear, legal path to citizenship"66
Names a policy
Veterans
Tyler L. Davis
Military & Veteran Readiness"Improve employment opportunities through license reciprocity and remote work initiatives."22
Names a policy
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Support Veterans and Military Families"Build a Full-Service VA Hospital: Northwest Florida's veterans deserve top-tier healthcare close to home."66
Names a policy
Health care
Tyler L. Davis
Nothing on this topic
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Expand Healthcare Access"Gay will fight for universal, affordable, quality healthcare." Also: "reinstating the $35 cap on insulin."66
Names a policyIncludes a number or target
Schools and education
Tyler L. Davis
Education"Supporting anonymous reporting systems that encourage students to report potential threats before they escalate."2 Also: "Strengthening apprenticeship programs."22
Names a policy
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Invest in Public Education"Gay will fight to raise teacher pay and keep talented educators in our schools."66
None of the six checks
Crime and public safety
Tyler L. Davis
Nothing on this topic
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Keep Our Communities Safe"including universal background checks and federal red flag laws."66
Names a policy
Elections and voting
Tyler L. Davis
Nothing on this topic
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Protect Voting Rights & Strengthen Our Democracy"Gay will fight to strengthen the John Lewis Voting Rights Act"66
Names a policy
Ethics, term limits and money in politics
Tyler L. Davis
Government Transparency & Accountability"Make government easier to understand through plain-language communication." Also: "Increase transparency in public meetings, legislation, budgets, and agency decisions."22
None of the six checks
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Nothing on this topic
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Tyler L. Davis
Cost of Living & the Economy"Holding utilities accountable for delivering measurable improvements when rate increases are approved for infrastructure upgrades."2 Also: "Simplifying the federal tax code."22
Names a policy
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Lower Costs & Fight Inflation"supporting federal legislation to cut insurance rates by at least 25%." Also: "passing the Bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act"66
Names a policyIncludes a number or target
Support Workers & Small Businesses"Gay will fight to expand tax incentives and funding for small business owners"66
None of the six checks
Other
Tyler L. Davis
Community Solutions"Protecting tourist destinations from organized criminal enterprises." Also: "Expanding volunteer opportunities across all age groups."22
None of the six checks
Jimmy Patronis
No issues page on their site
Gay Valimont
Nothing on this topic
Their record
Tyler L. Davis
  • His Home page shows him speaking at a county commissioners meeting on June 17, 2026 "against data centers" and lists no elected office.2
Jimmy Patronis
  • Former Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal, and eight years in the Florida House, by his own account.4
  • Says he "successfully fought to change the law to provide benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer" as CFO.4 No votes or bills as a Congressman are listed.
Gay Valimont
  • Challenged then-Rep. Matt Gaetz in 2024 and ran in the 2025 special election, which she did not win, per her site.7
In their words
Tyler L. Davis

"I believe leadership should be accountable, present, and grounded in service."

Tyler L. Davis, campaign About page3

"Government should empower people, and move out of their way."

Tyler L. Davis, How I'll Work For You2
Jimmy Patronis

"As Congressman, Patronis has made his priorities supporting President Trump's America First Agenda through cutting taxes, reining in spending, investing in the military and reforming veteran's services to support those who gave so much to our country."

Jimmy Patronis, campaign About page4

"Jimmy represented Northwest Florida for eight years in the Florida House of Representatives."

Jimmy Patronis, campaign About page4
Gay Valimont

"Florida's 1st District deserves a full-time leader who lives here, knows our community, and fights for us every single day."

Gay Valimont, campaign Meet Gay page7

"Our district has a rich culture, but we're facing real challenges: rising costs for food, housing, and insurance that are squeezing working families."

Gay Valimont, campaign Meet Gay page7
Where we read it
Tyler L. Davis
Website: tylerdavisforcongress.com (checked 11/5/2026)
Jimmy Patronis
Website: joinjimmy.com (checked 11/5/2026)
Gay Valimont
Website: gayforcongress.com (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • All three talk about veterans. Patronis lists "reforming veteran's services." Valimont: "Build a Full-Service VA Hospital." Davis: "Reduce delays in benefits processing."4, 6, 2
  • Valimont and Davis both treat home insurance costs as a problem. Valimont: "Florida homeowners pay the highest insurance rates in the country." Davis: "Encourage greater market competition."6, 2
  • Valimont and Davis both say Social Security benefits should be protected. Valimont: "No cuts, no privatization." Davis: "Protecting benefits for current retirees and those nearing retirement."6, 2

Where they really split

  • Taxes and spending: Patronis lists "cutting taxes, reining in spending." Davis: "Simplifying the federal tax code." Valimont: "expand tax incentives and funding for small business owners."4, 2, 6
  • Health care: Valimont: "universal, affordable, quality healthcare." Davis: "I believe Medicaid should provide quality healthcare." Patronis's site names no health policy.6, 2
  • Guns: Valimont backs "universal background checks and federal red flag laws."6 Patronis's news page lists a release that "Proposes Dismantling the Treasury's FinCEN Network Which Targeted Gun Owners."5 Davis's site names no gun policy.

What each one leaves out

  • Patronis's campaign site has no issues page. It names no specific policy, number, cost or date.4
  • Valimont's eight issues name a policy on six and spell out how on none. Two have a number (a 25% insurance cut and a $35 insulin cap), and none has a cost or a date.6
  • Davis's five sections name a policy on three and spell out how on none. None has a number, a cost or a date.2
Sources (checked 11/5/2026)
  1. Florida Division of Elections, Florida Election Watch, unofficial (all 67 counties at 100% of precincts reporting): floridaelectionwatch.gov/FederalOffices/USRepresentative
  2. Tyler L. Davis campaign, How I'll Work For You: tylerdavisforcongress.com/how-ill-work-for-you
  3. Tyler L. Davis campaign, About Tyler: tylerdavisforcongress.com/about-tyler
  4. Jimmy Patronis campaign, About: joinjimmy.com/about/
  5. Jimmy Patronis campaign, Blog (press releases): joinjimmy.com/blog/
  6. Gay Valimont campaign, Priorities: gayforcongress.com/issues
  7. Gay Valimont campaign, Meet Gay: gayforcongress.com/meet-gay