House Republicans Brush Off Stefanik Drama Amid Florida Special Election Frenzy

House Republicans are shrugging off jitters over three traditionally red congressional seats, with the special election for two of them just around the corner. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but GOP leaders seem laser-focused on projecting confidence.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., gave his seal of approval to the candidates in Florida's special elections, saying last week, "Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine are exactly who House Republicans need to join our team." While that’s a strong endorsement, it also sounds like a pep talk for folks who might be sweating the details behind the scenes.

Patronis is vying for Florida's 1st Congressional District seat, previously held by the headline-making, controversy-attracting Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., while Fine is aiming to replace Mike Waltz, R-Fla., who stepped into the role of U.S. national security advisor. Despite the GOP historically owning these districts, their fundraising game has been lackluster compared to the Democrats. And yes, numbers like these have sparked some internal debates about what this means for Republicans nationwide.

The drama doesn’t stop there. Upstate New York’s 21st District is still buzzing over Rep. Elise Stefanik’s decision to withdraw her nomination for the United Nations ambassador role at Trump’s request. Stefanik’s move blindsided House GOP leadership and triggered whispers about the party’s razor-thin margin in the House. Democrats, naturally, pounced on the situation, suggesting Republicans feared losing her seat. Stefanik, however, blamed New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, for playing political games with special election timelines.

In an appearance on "Hannity," Stefanik doubled down on her loyalty to Trump and her belief in defying political odds. "We are going to continue to deliver victory on behalf of President Trump and, importantly, the voters across this country," she declared. If confidence were currency, Stefanik would be swimming in it.

Meanwhile, Florida’s special elections have turned into a fundraising tug-of-war. Democrat Gay Valimont outpaced Patronis in Florida’s 1st District, raking in a whopping $6 million compared to his $1.1 million. Over in the 6th District, Democrat Josh Weil made even bigger waves by raising $9.3 million, leaving Fine and his modest $600,000 in the dust. These jaw-dropping disparities prompted conservative super PACs to dive into the fray, rolling out ads that highlight Trump’s support for Fine. It’s a classic case of too little, too late—or so it seems.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., added to the drama by predicting Democratic candidates would "significantly overperform" in these races, even in districts that should be Republican slam dunks. Whether this is optimism or calculated PR spin remains to be seen.

Despite the fundraising setbacks and Democratic overperformance, GOP leaders are sticking to their guns. NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., brushed off concerns, saying Fine is "doing what he needs to do" and confidently adding, "we’re going to win the seat." While that’s reassuring, it’s hard to ignore the tension simmering beneath the surface.