Florida primaries set matchups for governor, Senate and House

Florida voters chose nominees for governor, Senate and several closely watched U.S. House races Tuesday, producing a mix of expected victories and notable upsets in the first primaries held under the state’s newly redrawn congressional map.

The results will shape November contests that could affect control of Congress after the midterm elections. The new map, drawn by the Republican-led legislature, has reshaped several districts and, according to Al Jazeera, observers say it was designed to favor Republicans and could leave Democrats with a very small share of Florida’s 28 House seats.

In the governor’s race, Republican Congressman Byron Donalds won his party’s nomination, according to The Associated Press. Donalds, who had President Donald Trump’s support, defeated a field of 11 candidates and will try to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. If elected in November, Donalds could become Florida’s first Black governor.

He will face former Congressman David Jolly, who won the Democratic primary, according to the AP. Jolly previously served in Congress as a Republican, later became an independent and joined the Democratic Party last year.

One of the biggest Democratic upsets came in the U.S. Senate primary, where progressive state lawmaker Angie Nixon defeated retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the AP reported. Vindman, a former national security official, became nationally known for his testimony during Trump’s first impeachment hearing in 2019. Al Jazeera reported that Nixon raised less than $1 million, while Vindman outraised her by more than 16 to 1.

Nixon, a former labor activist backed by progressive figures including Rep. Ilhan Omar, will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November in a special election for the final two years of former Sen. Marco Rubio’s term. Rubio vacated the seat after becoming Trump’s secretary of state.

Not all progressive challengers prevailed. Al Jazeera reported that union organizer Oliver Larkin lost to incumbent Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz in a newly configured Republican-friendly district.

In South Florida, longtime Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won her primary in a new district that cuts through Broward and Palm Beach counties. NPR reported that Wasserman Schultz moved into the district after the redrawn map made her old district more competitive. The seat had belonged to former Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was among four Black candidates running in a district with a long history of sending Black candidates to Congress.

Al Jazeera reported that Cherfilus-McCormick had resigned earlier this year under a pending federal indictment and the threat of House ethics sanctions but sought to regain the seat. Wasserman Schultz’s victory, NPR reported, eliminated the chance for the district to send another Black representative to Washington.

On the Republican side, Rep. Cory Mills lost his primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District to Ryan Elijah, according to the AP. Mills had been under a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that he assaulted a former girlfriend and violated campaign finance laws. NPR said it reached out to Mills’ office for a response but did not hear back; he has previously denied wrongdoing. Al Jazeera reported that Trump initially backed Mills in February but did not include him in a list of endorsements on Monday.

In Florida’s 6th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Randy Fine won his primary against a crowded field, Al Jazeera reported. Fine, a Trump ally and staunchly pro-Israel lawmaker, faced challengers including internet personality Daniel Bilzerian.