Trump Voted by Mail in 2026 Florida Special Election After Years of Fraud Claims

The former president cast a mail-in ballot in a race that saw a Democrat flip a GOP-held seat near Mar-a-Lago.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:36pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In March 2026, former U.S. President Donald Trump voted by mail in a Florida special election for the state's House District 87, which includes his Mar-a-Lago resort. This came after years of Trump railing against mail-in voting and making unsubstantiated claims of "massive and overwhelming voter fraud." Democratic candidate Emily Gregory won the race, flipping the seat from Republican control.

Why it matters

Trump's use of mail-in voting despite his past criticism of the practice highlights the hypocrisy of his stance on the issue. It also raises questions about the validity of his past claims of widespread voter fraud, which have not been supported by credible evidence.

The details

According to records from the Palm Beach County elections website, Trump, his wife Melania, and their son Barron all voted by mail in the March 2026 special election. When asked about it, Trump told reporters he voted by mail because he is "president of the United States" and cited provisions in the GOP's SAVE America Act that allow for mail-in voting in certain circumstances.

  • In March 2026, Trump voted by mail in the Florida House District 87 special election.
  • In March 2020, Trump also voted by mail in Florida's primary election.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, particularly related to mail-in voting, but then voted by mail himself in a 2026 Florida special election.

Emily Gregory

The Democratic candidate who won the 2026 Florida House District 87 special election, flipping the seat from Republican control.

Jon Maples

The Republican candidate endorsed by Trump who lost the 2026 Florida House District 87 special election.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You know why? Because I'm president of the United States. And because of the fact that I'm president of the United States, I did a mail-in ballot for elections that took place in Florida.”

— Donald Trump, Former President

“As President Trump has said, the SAVE America Act has commonsense exceptions for Americans to use mail-in ballots for illness, disability, military, or travel – but universal mail-in voting should not be allowed because it's highly susceptible to fraud.”

— Olivia Wales, White House Spokesperson

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.