Matt Gaetz wins Republican primary against challenger backed by Kevin McCarthy

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, easily fended off a primary challenge from Aaron Dimmock for Florida's First Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race for Gaetz at 7:13 p.m. as votes were still being counted Tuesday night.

Gaetz leads Dimmock 70.52% to 29.48% with only the early voting and mail-in ballots counted, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

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Dimmock, a retired Navy officer, had the backing of Super PACs with ties to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Gaetz led a group of seven other House Republicans to oust McCarthy as House Speaker last year. All eight Republicans have faced well-financed primary challenges that many political commentators dubbed as the "McCarthy revenge tour." Only one incumbent, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, has lost a primary.

Congressman Matt Gaetz: Challenger Aaron Dimmock faces uphill battle

Gaetz has ridiculed McCarthy's backing of Dimmock and his opponent's post-military career that involved training corporate managers in diversity. Gaetz has labeled Dimmock a diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) instructor, which has become a derogatory term in Republican politics. During one campaign event, Gaetz said DEI was "anti-white racism."

The groups backing Dimmock inundated the district with advertisements hitting Gaetz over allegations he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations and the Justice Department declined to bring any charges last year, though the House Ethic Committee is still investigating.

"Your daughters are never safe with the real Matt Gaetz," one advertisement from the Florida Patroits PAC declared.

Gaetz will go on to face Democratic candidate Gay Valimont in the election in November. Valimont is a former Florida leader in the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Matt Gaetz wins primary against challenger backed by Kevin McCarthy