Florida voters will cast ballots on Tuesday in a busy primary that includes the race to replace term‑limited Governor Ron DeSantis. The contest has become a sharply divided intra‑party battle, though the likely outcome appears clear.
Gubernatorial primary
Naples‑area Rep. Byron Donalds, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is the front‑runner in the Republican primary. Gov. DeSantis has not publicly endorsed any candidate and, according to a CNN report, shared his concerns about Donalds privately with Trump. DeSantis also has not backed his lieutenant governor, who is among the field.
Another contender, 31‑year‑old James Fishback, has drawn attention for inflammatory remarks, calling Donalds a “slave to his donors” and a “DEI Republican” who would turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto. Other GOP candidates include Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who emphasizes protecting the DeSantis legacy, and former state House Speaker Paul Renner.
Democrats are expected to nominate former Rep. David Jolly, a party‑switcher who left the GOP in 2018 and became a Democrat last year. Jolly is a vocal critic of Trump.
New congressional map and down‑ballot races
Tuesday also marks the first election under a new congressional map drawn by DeSantis, designed to add four Republican‑leaning seats. This redistricting has spurred a scramble in House primaries across the state.
In the 7th District, Rep. Cory Mills—who was endorsed by Trump in February—faces a primary challenge from former news anchor Ryan Elijah and two others. Mills is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for possible campaign‑finance violations, a revenge‑porn allegation, and an assault claim, all of which he denies.
In the 6th District, Rep. Randy Fine, a staunch supporter of Israel, is challenged by social‑media personality Dan Bilzerian, who has launched an openly antisemitic campaign against Fine.
The 19th District race to replace Donalds features former members of Congress from other states, including North Carolina’s Madison Cawthorn and New York’s Chris Collins, as well as former Illinois state senator Jim Oberweis. Former Commerce Department staffer Catalina Lauf has received Trump’s endorsement.
Senate primary and broader implications
The Republican primary for U.S. Senate pits retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, a key witness in the first impeachment inquiry, against state Rep. Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist who advocates ending U.S. military aid to Israel.
Analysts note that while Republicans have won every Florida gubernatorial race in the past three decades, a weak showing by Donalds could give Democrats a chance to make the race competitive, echoing the close 2018 contest.
Florida’s shift rightward over the past decade—driven by gains among Hispanic voters, an influx of conservative newcomers, and a disorganized state Democratic Party—has turned the state from a swing battleground into a reliably Republican stronghold. Nonetheless, the primary outcomes will shape the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
