STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
President Trump's local state representative is now a Democrat. Emily Gregory won a special election flipping the Florida district that is home to President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. When a Democrat wins a seat that a Republican previously had won by 19 percentage points, it captures national attention. Representative-elect Emily Gregory is a first-time candidate, 40 years old, owner of a fitness company and is on the line from Jupiter, Florida, which I believe is the home of a Trump golf course, is it not, Emily Gregory?
EMILY GREGORY: Hi, Steve. Yes, it certainly is. And it is so close that on election morning, I went out for my run, and I don't normally clock it and take - make any mention of it, but I took a picture 'cause I passed Trump National.
INSKEEP: OK. All right. Well, what is the district like other than Mar-a-Lago and the golf course?
GREGORY: So it is, you know, sort of creatively shaped. This population center is Jupiter, North Palm, Juno, Palm Beach Gardens, and then it's very, very skinny and coastal and runs all the way down to Manalapan and Hypoluxo.
INSKEEP: OK. A pretty prosperous area, and it had been a very Republican area. To what extent do you think some of your voters were sending a message about the president?
GREGORY: Well, my theory of the case the whole time was that my neighbors wanted solutions, and we wanted to work together, and we did not want to bicker, and we did not, you know, want the animosity that comes with politics today. And I think on Tuesday, they proved that theory out.
INSKEEP: What do you mean by that? Do you say - are you saying that you were arguing for bipartisanship?
GREGORY: I just really focused on the issues and really what I was hearing from the voters and then responding to that.
INSKEEP: And the issues on your level, at the state level or what?
GREGORY: Yeah. Time and time again, I heard property insurance. Rates have skyrocketed here in Florida. It really is out of control. Ours is up over 300% personally. At the same level, health care. People are having trouble keeping their health care if they had an ACA tax plan. And at the same time, our public schools are being gutted. So these are the things that I heard time and time again. So that's what I focused on.
INSKEEP: Democrats nationally are going to look at this and try to read national signs. Should they?
GREGORY: They can if they want to, but I would caution them and tell them, talk to your voters. A lot of people have asked me about, should all Democrats talk about affordability? And I say, well, if it's an issue in the area, and you will only know that if you go talk to as many voters as you possibly can.
INSKEEP: Did you hear from voters as you went across the district who were frustrated with the president?
GREGORY: I really didn't. I didn't ask about the president. I really tried to keep it state policy and how I could serve them if I was so lucky to be elected.
INSKEEP: I believe the president voted by mail. I'm taking a wild guess you didn't get his vote, but, of course, it's a secret ballot. Do you want to be in touch with him now that you represent him?
GREGORY: I would be happy to have a conversation. I don't know if he's interested, but if he wanted - if he gave me a call, I would happily pick up.
INSKEEP: And one other thing - this is a special election, so it's for part of an unexpired term. You would have to run again in November. Are you doing that, and how are you thinking about running in that bigger election?
GREGORY: Yes, Steve. The reelection paperwork is on my kitchen counter right now. I will be running for reelection. And I think, you know, this has worked for us. We are going to stay disciplined with our ground game. I mean, that is how we won. It was an army of volunteers knocking on doors with me, phone banking. And that's what we're going to keep doing.
INSKEEP: Emily Gregory, a Democrat, is representative-elect for Florida's 87th District. Thank you so much.
GREGORY: Thanks, Steve.
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