Matt Gaetz defeats McCarthy-backed candidate in Florida primary

[KARAH RUCKER]

FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ WON HIS PRIMARY TUESDAY — DEFEATING THE CANDIDATE BACKED BY FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY.

GAETZ  BEATING OUT NAVY VETERAN AARON DIMMOCK IN THE DEEP-RED FIRST DISTRICT OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

MCCARTHY AND HIS ALLIES HAD TARGETED GAETZ — AS WELL AS THREE OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED TO OUST HIM FROM THE SPEAKERSHIP LATE LAST YEAR.

MCCARTHY DID CLAIM ONE WIN — HELPING TO DEFEAT HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIRMAN BOB GOOD from VIRGINIA EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

while SOUTH CAROLINA REPRESENTATIVE NANCY MACE AND ARIZONA’S ELI CRANE WON EACH OF THEIR RACES.