By Rajwa Quasim
Tuesday’s primary elections in Florida, held under the state’s recently redrawn congressional map, produced a mix of expected wins and surprises, highlighting fresh tensions within both major parties ahead of the November midterm elections.
Governor’s race
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican primary with 47.8% of the vote after being endorsed by President Donald Trump. He defeated state Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who received 25.1%, and James Fishback, who received 10.5%.
Donalds will face Democrat David Jolly in November. Jolly won the Democratic primary with 61.07% of the vote, defeating Dayna Foster, who received 15.1%, and Dotie Joseph, who received 9.6%. Jolly is a former Republican congressman who joined the Democratic Party in November.
Donalds raised more than $100 million during the primary. Florida has about 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats. If elected, Donalds would succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis and become Florida’s first Black governor.
Senate race
Candidates will compete in a special election to fill the final two years of Marco Rubio’s Senate term. Rubio vacated the seat after becoming Trump’s secretary of state.
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The biggest surprise came in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, where progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon received 56.1% of the vote, defeating better-funded former national security official Alexander Vindman, who received 43.9%. Vindman was a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment inquiry.
Nixon’s victory was notable because she raised less than $1 million, compared with Vindman’s $16 million. Her campaign focused on issues including universal health care and child care, and she has been an outspoken critic of U.S. foreign policy and the war in Gaza.
Nixon will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who received 79.6% of the vote and defeated Chris Gleason, who received 13.7%, in the Republican primary.
“Rep. Nixon ran a strong campaign. I will be standing by her side in the fight against Ashley Moody. I hope you’ll join me,” Vindman said in a statement after conceding the race.
Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate election in Florida since 2012.
Attorney general race
Republican Rep. James Uthmeier will face Democrat José Javier Rodriguez in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries.
House races
In Florida’s 25th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz won the primary with 63.5% of the vote, defeating union organizer Oliver Larkin, who received 36.5%.
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In the 20th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz defeated Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and three other Black candidates in the majority-Black district, providing relief for establishment Democrats. Cherfilus-McCormick had resigned earlier this year amid a federal indictment and the threat of House ethics sanctions.
Trump had initially backed Republican Rep. Cory Mills, a two-term congressman, in Florida’s 7th Congressional District. Mills, who had faced ethics investigations and allegations of misconduct, lost to former news anchor Ryan Elijah, who received 47.3% of the vote to Mills’ 34.1%.
In another closely watched contest, Rep. Randy Fine received 56.9% of the vote to defeat Daniel Bilzerian, who received 18.7%, in Florida’s 6th Congressional District. Fine is known for his pro-Israel stance.
Overall, political analysts said Republicans remain dominant in Florida. The state’s newly redrawn congressional map is expected to favor Republicans and could leave Democrats with only a small number of Florida’s 28 House seats after the November midterm elections.