At a bit of , Congressman Matt Gaetz had news.
鈥淚 got a call from President Trump,鈥� said Gaetz, who is running for reelection. 鈥淗e said Matt, we got to get ready for , be at Mar-a-Lago.鈥�
Former President Donald Trump is a big deal to this crowd in the Florida Panhandle, and Gaetz's relationship with the party's nominee is a big selling point in this primary race.
The state鈥檚 1st Congressional District is . And the Republican primary has become the epicenter of a battle for who controls the party鈥檚 brand. Gaetz is facing off against a primary opponent who is backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in an ongoing feud where both sides argue that the future of the GOP is at stake.
Gaetz, who has , is racing to get an overwhelming boost from voters on primary election day on Tuesday. Polls have shown in the race, but he鈥檚 facing a well-funded moderate Republican.
That opponent, retired Navy pilot Aaron Dimmock, is backed by McCarthy and his allies.
鈥淯sually I've had a resource advantage when I've run,鈥� Gaetz told NPR. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to be outspent 3 or 4 to 1 in this contest because Kevin McCarthy has mobilized the millions of dollars he had in his political committees to run advertisements against me.鈥�
McCarthy and his allies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A personal feud persists
Polls show Gaetz maintains a potentially decisive lead in the race. But McCarthy's spending has not flagged.
McCarthy because he didn鈥檛 block a tied to sex trafficking and drug allegations.
Gaetz has denied the claims and said a related started in 2020 was closed without charges.
However, in Congress 鈥� and the feud 鈥� continue today.
In July, the two clashed during with McCarthy at the Republican National Convention.
鈥淥ne person who raised the issue, he鈥檚 got an ethics complaint about 鈥� sleeping with a 17-year-old,鈥� McCarthy told CNN when asked about fractures in the Republican Party. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 the biggest challenge we have.鈥�
Gaetz was seen trying to crash the interview, telling McCarthy, 鈥測ou would get booed off the stage鈥� at the convention if you got on it, he interrupted.
A fight over a district's needs
For Dimmock, the race to unseat the four-term incumbent is about convincing voters that these public fights are more than just a spectacle.
During a Pensacola coffee shop visit, Dimmock tells NPR that Gaetz has neglected his district.
鈥淭he fact that he spends so much time away from the district is quite telling,鈥� he said.
Dimmock says his supporters agree.
So far, Dimmock鈥檚 campaign has drawn more than $3 million in support from , which is closely affiliated with McCarthy allies. The political committee has dropped ads and .
Douglas Weber, a senior researcher for nonpartisan, nonprofit group OpenSecrets, said overall spending is close in the race thanks to the boost for Dimmock from the Freedom Patriots.
鈥淕aetz nonetheless has spent a lot,鈥� totaling more than $4.9 million as a candidate, Weber said.
The political committees for sitting GOP members of Congress such as Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin and Ohio Reps. Dave Joyce and Max Miller .
Dimmock argues that he鈥檚 drawing significant support because Gaetz hasn鈥檛 delivered for Florida鈥檚 1st Congressional District.
鈥淗e's more focused at the national level, more self-promotion, self-interest, making himself look better in his eyes and doing these things that literally have zero to do with our district,鈥� Dimmock said.
Those 鈥渢hings鈥� include endorsing challengers to his GOP colleagues, and even .
Gonzales narrowly beat his primary opponent, but Gaetz says even if that race didn鈥檛 go his way, his constituents embrace his brand.
That is, bringing the GOP closer to its base 鈥� through him.
鈥淚 am hoping to reshape the House in my image,鈥� he said.
That鈥檚 a job normally left for party leaders, and it illustrates the larger fight for party control.
Legislative impacts beyond a personality fight
That struggle has derailed Republican ambitions from passing partisan spending bills in the GOP-led House to delivering a unified campaign message around the country.
Republican strategist Doug Heye argues that while a breakdown in a smaller share of the party may draw outsized attention, it can create headaches.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e the speaker of the House, you certainly want everyone on the same page and anything that goes against that makes your job that much harder on any given day,鈥� he said.
At the Niceville rally, Gaetz鈥檚 campaign is more of a family affair. His father, Don, a former member of the Florida Legislature, is .
Don Gaetz is part of a larger group of campaign surrogates for his son, including several congressional Republicans.
Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Chip Roy of Texas and Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, have made their way to the district, with more members expected before the Aug. 20 election date.
When asked, Gaetz says he doesn鈥檛 know if his bad blood with McCarthy will ever end. However, he鈥檚 bullish McCarthy will regret getting involved in this race.
鈥淚 would suggest that therapy is cheaper. You know, he should have just invested that money into some self-help,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut working out your demons, losing elections by large margins seems odd to me.鈥�
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