Trump endorses Republican in his own backyard — who may not even live in the district
President Donald Trump threw his full political weight behind a Florida state house candidate in his own backyard — but the Republican he's backing has faced swirling questions about whether he even lives in the district he wants to represent.
Trump posted a full-throated Truth Social endorsement Monday of Jon Maples, declaring he has his "complete and total endorsement" for Tuesday's special election in Florida House District 87, a coastal Palm Beach County seat covering some of the wealthiest ZIP codes in the state, including Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Singer Island and Palm Beach itself.
"Jon is a very successful Businessman and Civic Leader, who is known and loved, and also endorsed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends, including by Great State Representative 'MAGA' Meg Weinberger. Jon will be a terrific Legislator! As your next State Representative, Jon will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Stop Migrant Crime, Safeguard our Elections, Support our Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment," wrote Trump.
However, Maples, a former Lake Clarke Shores commissioner, hasn't actually represented that area, and his residency in District 87 has come under scrutiny.
He said he recently moved into an apartment in Palm Beach Shores and still holds a homestead exemption on a property in Lake Clarke Shores, which lies outside the district entirely.
"Maples said he plans to move to a house in Jupiter after a 'walk-through' earlier today," wrote WFLX last week.
“I’m renting a place in Palm Beach Shores and I have my house in Lake Clark Shores,” Maples told the TV station. “ Now, what I want to do because I want to follow law is put my family with me. So I bought a house to make sure that my family is with me," Maples acknowledged.
He dismissed residency concerns as "political games."
The seat has been vacant since August, when DeSantis appointed the previous representative to a county clerk position, leaving residents without state representation for the legislative session.