Florida voters went to the polls on Tuesday for a series of high‑profile primary contests that will shape the state’s political landscape heading into the November general election. The most closely watched race was the open governor’s seat, as term‑limited Gov. Ron DeSantis is not on the ballot.
GOP governor’s primary
Republicans selected Rep. Byron Donalds as their nominee. Donalds, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, received the former president’s endorsement and campaigned on property‑tax reform, data‑center regulation and a strong alignment with the Trump administration. He praised former Gov. Rick Scott and Gov. DeSantis for building what he called “a strong foundation” in the Sunshine State.
Although Donalds raised more than $100 million during the primary, he fell short of the 50 percent threshold, prompting a Republican fundraiser to wonder whether Trump’s approval rating may have limited his performance.
Democratic governor’s primary
Democrats nominated former Rep. David Jolly, who left the Republican Party in 2018 and officially became a Democrat last year. Jolly described his victory as the emergence of a new political coalition in Florida.
Florida’s voter registration advantage—about 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats—means the general election will be a significant test for Jolly’s campaign.
Congressional races
Two incumbent House members running in newly redrawn districts retained their seats despite challenges from the left. However, Rep. Cory Mills, a Republican under multiple ethics investigations, lost to former news anchor Ryan Elijah. Elijah was endorsed by GOP colleagues Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Rep. Mike Haridopolos, while Gov. DeSantis declined to endorse Mills.
In Florida’s 19th District, Trump‑backed candidate Catalina Lauf was defeated by Jim Schwartzel, a political newcomer and president of Sun Broadcasting.
Democratic Senate primary
State Rep. Angie Nixon, identified with the Democratic Socialists of America, won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, defeating retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman. Nixon’s campaign emphasized support for Palestinians, opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza, and criticism of Gov. DeSantis’ congressional‑district map.
Despite being out‑spent—Vindman raised roughly $1 million compared with Nixon’s $265,000—Nixon secured the nomination, highlighting growing progressive influence within the Florida Democratic electorate.
Implications
The results underscore that Trump’s endorsement is no longer a guaranteed path to victory, as seen in several races where his preferred candidates fell short. The GOP retains a strong fundraising advantage and a voter‑registration edge, while Democrats face the challenge of uniting a diverse primary field and appealing to a state that has moved sharply rightward in recent elections.
Both parties will now turn their attention to the November ballot, where the governor’s race, U.S. Senate contest, and several House seats will be decided.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
