Elections Office Audits All Ballots in Gregory's Surprise Win

Democrat Emily Gregory's victory over Trump's endorsed candidate in the president's state House district prompts a full ballot review.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a lone ballot box or voting booth set against a dimly lit, urban backdrop, with warm, golden light streaming in from an unseen window, casting deep shadows across the scene and creating a contemplative, nostalgic mood.The full audit of ballots cast in the District 87 special election reinforces the integrity of Florida's electoral process, even as questions linger over the role of money in politics.Riviera Beach Today

The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office conducted a full audit of every ballot cast in the special election for Florida's State House District 87, which saw Democrat Emily Gregory defeat the candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The audit went beyond the state's legal requirement to review only 20% of votes, with the elections office seeking to dispel any claims of irregularity in Gregory's surprise victory.

Why it matters

Trump has frequently questioned the integrity of elections where he or his endorsed candidates were defeated, and he has criticized mail-in voting as 'cheating' despite his own use of the practice. The full audit in this race aims to reinforce confidence in the electoral process and counter any potential claims of impropriety.

The details

The elections office reviewed every precinct and every ballot cast in the District 87 special election, confirming the accuracy of the results. They noted that the vote tabulation process is isolated from the internet and all other systems, with multiple safeguards and verification steps in place. The audit affirmed that the election systems 'performed as designed'.

  • The special election for Florida's State House District 87 was held on March 24, 2026.
  • The full ballot audit was completed by the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office prior to Gregory's swearing-in on April 10, 2026.

The players

Emily Gregory

The Democratic winner of the District 87 special election, who was sworn in as the new state representative on April 10, 2026.

Jon Maples

The former Lake Clarke Shores Town Councilman who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in the District 87 race.

Wendy Sartory Link

The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, who oversaw the full ballot audit in the District 87 special election.

Donald Trump

The former president who endorsed the losing candidate in the District 87 race and has frequently questioned the integrity of elections where he or his endorsed candidates were defeated.

Ron DeSantis

The Governor of Florida who appointed the previous District 87 representative, Mike Caruso, to serve as Palm Beach County's clerk and comptroller.

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What they’re saying

“The post‑election audit is an important step in our regular process and provides an additional layer of verification for voters. By reviewing every precinct and every ballot after every election, we are able to confirm the accuracy of the results and reinforce confidence in our elections.”

— Wendy Sartory Link, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections

What’s next

The District 87 seat will be up for grabs again in the November 2026 general election, with Gregory potentially facing Maples in a rematch.

The takeaway

This full ballot audit in a race where Trump's endorsed candidate was defeated underscores the elections office's commitment to transparency and verification, aiming to counter the former president's frequent claims of electoral impropriety. The process reinforces that Palm Beach County's election systems have robust safeguards in place.