Voters in Florida are casting ballots today in a series of pivotal primary elections, including contests for governor and the U.S. Senate. These races take place against the backdrop of new congressional district boundaries, which were implemented by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to provide a GOP advantage in 24 of the state’s 28 districts. Alaska is also holding its nonpartisan top-four primary today, featuring a challenge to incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.
Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since 1994, and Governor DeSantis is barred from seeking another term due to term limits. His political influence in the state has been significant; after winning his 2018 election by less than a single percentage point, he secured a 20-point victory in 2022, effectively shifting Florida from a swing state to a Republican stronghold.
In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Representative Byron Donalds—who has represented the Naples and Fort Myers area since 2020—is the front-runner. Backed by President Trump, Donalds has branded himself as a “Make America Great Again” member of the House and is a prominent figure in the House Freedom Caucus. His campaign has raised $90 million, and he famously challenged Kevin McCarthy for the speakership in 2023, forcing 15 rounds of voting, and again sought the position after McCarthy’s ouster.
Donalds faces 10 other Republican challengers, most notably Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins and activist James Fishback. While DeSantis has not issued an endorsement, Collins has campaigned as “DeSantis-appointed.” Earlier this summer, Collins unsuccessfully attempted to remove Fishback from the ballot, alleging he failed to meet the state’s seven-year residency requirement.
Fishback, a 31-year-old Florida native, has aligned himself with the alt-right “groyper” movement and received support from white nationalist Nick Fuentes and commentator Tucker Carlson. He has directed racist rhetoric toward Donalds, labeling him a “token Black” representative and a “slave to donors.” Despite these attacks, Donalds has largely ignored Fishback, who has raised minimal funds and is not considered a serious threat to the front-runner.
On the Democratic side, six candidates are vying for the nomination, led by former Republican Representative David Jolly. Jolly, who served the St. Petersburg area from 2014 to 2016, is the second high-profile Republican-turned-Democrat to enter the race.
Regarding the U.S. Senate seat, Attorney General Ashley Moody is the expected Republican nominee. She was appointed to the seat by DeSantis after Marco Rubio became secretary of state. Moody, who won two terms as attorney general, faces three Republican challengers today. Meanwhile, Democrats Alex Vindman and Angie Nixon are competing for their party’s nomination. Vindman, a retired lieutenant colonel and former National Security Council official, gained prominence as a witness during the first impeachment of President Trump, while Nixon, a state representative from Jacksonville, is emphasizing her progressive credentials and union support.
Congressional maps remain a major point of contention. Earlier this year, DeSantis pushed through a new map that favored Republicans in four additional districts following a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the Voting Rights Act’s requirements for majority-Black districts. Representative Darren Soto is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, while seven Republicans compete for the chance to challenge him, including Thomas Chalifoux Jr., who previously secured over 40% of the vote.
In the 20th District, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running in a newly drawn majority-Black district. The seat was left vacant following the resignation of former Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who stepped down amid an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into allegations of theft and misconduct.
Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz is also facing a primary challenge from the left by democratic socialist Oliver Larkin, following the redrawing of his district to favor Republicans. Meanwhile, Republican Representative Cory Mills faces three primary challengers in the 7th District. Mills is currently under a House Ethics Committee probe regarding allegations of federal contracting violations, stolen valor, and assault. Two House Republicans have endorsed his challenger, Ryan Elijah, a former television anchor.
In Alaska, the Senate race features former Representative Mary Peltola challenging two-term incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. The state’s nonpartisan primary system ensures the top four finishers will advance to the November ballot. Financial reports indicate a competitive race, with Peltola raising over $18 million compared to Sullivan’s $11 million. While former Vice President Kamala Harris sent a fundraising email for Peltola, the campaign clarified they had not approved the pitch as Peltola seeks to maintain an independent profile. The report also notes that by 2022, he won by 20 points — transforming Florida from being seen as a swing state to being solidly Republican. The report also notes that donalds also put his name in the bid to replace McCarthy 10 months later when he was ousted from the speakership. The report also notes that trump’s backing, Donalds has amassed a significant war chest, having raised $90 million so far. The report also notes that he has also held a commanding lead in polls. The report also notes that the case was ultimately thrown out by a judge. The report also notes that calling him a “slave to donors,” a “token Black” in Congress and accusing him of wanting to turn Florida into a “Section 8 ghetto, fishback has taunted Donalds with racist comments. The report also notes that as the well-funded front-runner, Donalds generally does not acknowledge Fishback’s comments. The report also notes that but he has pushed white nationalism into the governor’s race and caused a splinter in the GOP, fishback has raised little money and does not stand much of a chance of succeeding on Tuesday.
