Nathan Boyles won the special election for Florida House District 3 on Tuesday, capturing 67.1% of the vote to defeat Democrat Dondre Wise.

• With unofficial results, Boyles received 8,175 votes to Wise’s 4,013 votes, or 32.9%.

The former Okaloosa County Commissioner will succeed Joel Rudman, the Navarre Republican who resigned from the House seat for an unsuccessful congressional campaign.

Boyles, who served 12 years on the Okaloosa County Commission before choosing not to seek reelection, announced his House candidacy back in December. 

The Republican’s victory came after Governor Ron DeSantis set the special election timeline in January, scheduling the contest following Rudman’s resignation to pursue Florida’s 1st Congressional District seat.

Rudman resigned effective January 1, 2025, to run for the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz. That congressional race was ultimately won by Jimmy Patronis.

Boyles will now represent House District 3, which includes portions of Okaloosa County.