A heavy last-minute GOP effort put Randy Fine over the top Tuesday in a special Congressional race that had Democrats hopeful they were within striking distance of a victory.
The state senator from Melbourne pulled ahead of Orlando school teacher Josh Weil in the race to replace Mike Waltz, the Congressman who was selected by President Trump to serve as his national security advisor.
Recent polling data had spooked Republicans who called in President Trump for a tele rally to bolster Fine’s prospects in the low-turnout race.
Registered Republicans in Congressional District 6 were inundated with last-minute mailers, text messages and phone calls in a desperate get-out-the-vote effort.
The race had stoked fears that the Republicans could lose control of the House.
District 6 includes parts of Marion and Lake counties.