Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Florida, the field of candidates is now set for the state’s two upcoming congressional special elections. One will fill the vacancy left by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, while the other will the upcoming vacancy left by incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Waltz, who’s joining the Trump administration. The special elections are scheduled for April 1.
* On a related note, Gaetz has apparently landed his first post-congressional job: The scandal-plagued Floridian will soon begin hosting a program on a far-right outlet called One America News Network (OAN).
* According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, which hasn’t been independently verified by other news organizations, Donald Trump spoke to Gov. Ron DeSantis about Lara Trump and Florida’s upcoming U.S. Senate vacancy. It will fall to the Republican governor to choose a successor if Sen. Marco Rubio is confirmed as the next secretary of state, which is extremely likely.
* On a related note, with Lara Trump stepping down from her position at the Republican National Committee, RNC Treasurer KC Crosbie has reportedly told her colleagues that she wants to succeed Trump as the party’s co-chair.
* The president-elect has already endorsed Crosbie, suggesting she won’t face credible intraparty opposition.
* Last month, Florida state Rep. Susan Valdes asked local voters to re-elect her as a Democrat. After winning the race, she became a Republican, expanding the GOP’s already enormous super-majority in the chamber.
* A day later, in Texas, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, who helps lead a border county that includes Laredo, also switched to the GOP. He made the announcement about his new party affiliation during an appearance on Fox News.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com