Special election dates set for Waltz seat, which could become contentious race for GOP contenders

Fine announces bid for seat vacated by Rep. Waltz

Watch FOX 35 News at 5PM for the latest news alerts, headlines, and weather forecast for Central Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Monday set special election dates to replace U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, a Florida Republican tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as national security advisory.

A special primary election for Congressional District 6 will take place on Jan. 28 and a special general election will be held on April 1.

The qualifying period for the race will run from Dec. 6 at 8 a.m. through noon on Dec. 7. State lawmakers face a Tuesday deadline — a day after Byrd formally announced the election dates — to resign to run for the seat, which is made up of all or parts of Flagler, Lake, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties. The resignations do not have to take effect immediately.

Trump has endorsed state Sen. Randy Fine, a Brevard County Republican, to succeed Waltz, who submitted his resignation from Congress on Monday. Fine, a former state House member who was elected to the Senate on Nov. 5, formally announced on Tuesday that he would be running for the post.

"Whether it's fighting inflation to make America affordable again, closing the border to make America safe again, or standing up for Israel and standing up to China. I'm ready to go," Fine said on Fox & Friends.