Florida's Republican chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis fended off a challenge by Democrat Gay Valimont to win Tuesday's special election for northwest Florida's 1st Congressional District, which President Donald Trump carried by about 37 points in November.

The outcome of Florida's 1st District special election gives House Republicans some breathing room in the narrowly divided chamber.

Patronis dominated votes in three of the four counties that make up the district, but Valimont won Escambia County where she had 51.18% of the vote with 77 of 80 precincts reporting. Turnout in Escambia County was 33%, higher than what the 25% election officials were expecting.