CNN anchor Jake Tapper quickly pointed out the margin of victory for Florida’s former Chief Financial Officer Jim Patronis, who secured the seat previously held by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Tuesday.

Gaetz, originally nominated by President Donald Trump for Attorney General, withdrew his nomination but resigned his House seat before doing so. When Patronis was projected to win on Tuesday, Tapper wasted no time in highlighting that his victory margin fell short of Gaetz’s impressive 37-point margin in November 2024.

“Patronis is a strong candidate,” Tapper said, before adding, “And he is — he’s going to win, we’re projecting a win for him — but Dana, it’s not a 35-point win that it should be in ruby red panhandle Florida.”

“You’re exactly right,” fellow anchor Dana Bash agreed. “And it is the whole question of the margins, Jake, that is what Democrats have been looking at all night.”

The commentary drew lots of criticism online, as users on social media pointed out that the two left-wing hosts were trying to make something of what was still a double-digit Democrat loss.

You know things are bad for the Democrats when they're celebrating double digit losses in Congressional races.

"He is going to win, we're projecting a win for him [Patronis]. But Dana, it's not a 35 point win." pic.twitter.com/xWhxjltMVU

— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) April 2, 2025

“CNN is always funny to watch on election night when Republicans are winning!” Brigitte Gabriel posted.

Others noted that Patronis’ race, along with the special election to fill the seat vacated by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, were held alongside municipal elections. This context required a different analysis of the margins of victory.

Special elections typically experience much lower turnout, which can lead to narrower margins of victory and even unexpected outcomes.

A similar scenario unfolded in Kansas in 2017 after President Donald Trump nominated then-Congressman Mike Pompeo to serve as CIA Director. Despite Pompeo securing his seat with a comfortable 31-point margin in the previous November, his successor, Ron Estes, only managed to win by six points.

However, Estes went on to win the same seat by 27 points in 2020, another 27 points in 2022, and 30 points in 2024.