Florida’s primary election results were a mix of surprises and predictions, highlighting tensions between America’s major political parties ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Tuesday’s election campaign was the first to be based on the state’s newly redrawn congressional map, which observers say is designed to favor Republicans and could leave Democrats with only a handful of Florida’s 28 House seats.
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The result caused a major upset within the Democratic Party, with progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon defeating the much better-funded former national security official Alexander Vindman in the Senate primary.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Byron Donald has secured the gubernatorial nomination with support from President Donald Trump, potentially becoming Florida’s first black governor.
Here are the key takeaways from the Florida primary.
Progressive wins in big upset
Nixon’s victory over Vindman is another sign that progressive candidates are beginning to make strides against their better-funded establishment rivals.
Ms. Nixon, a state lawmaker and former labor activist, raised less than $1 million, but Mr. Vindman outnumbered her by more than 16 to 1. Mr. Vindman was known nationally for his testimony during President Trump’s first impeachment hearing in 2019, while Mr. Nixon was building a profile in Florida politics and among progressives. She was endorsed by prominent progressive figures, including Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Her victory continued a pattern seen in other Democratic primaries this year, in which progressive candidates defeated more established and heavily funded opponents.
Mr. Nixon will now 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 President Trump’s secretary of state.
But not everything went the Democratic Socialists’ way in Tuesday’s primary. In another Florida primary, union organizer Oliver Larkin lost to incumbent Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz in a new Republican-leaning district.
In another sigh of relief for establishment Democrats, longtime U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz easily won the most contentious race, defeating U.S. Rep. Sheila Chafferas McCormick and three other black candidates in a majority-black district.
Charfilas McCormick had hoped to regain her seat after resigning earlier this year, citing pending federal charges and the threat of House ethics sanctions.
Trump supporter Donald wins
Republicans had a clearer outcome in the gubernatorial race, with Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donald winning the nomination to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Donalds is currently scheduled to face Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican who later became an independent and joined the Democratic Party. If Donald wins in November, he will become Florida’s first black governor.
He is also part of a historically large number of Black gubernatorial candidates across the country this year. Currently, there is only one black governor in the United States, Democrat Wes Moore of Maryland, who is up for re-election in November.
Although Donald’s victory strengthens Trump’s influence with Republican primary voters, Florida’s political shift to the right remains a larger factor in the governor’s race.
Cory Mills becomes another ousted Republican incumbent.
Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost in the primary election to former TV news anchor Ryan Ilya, and Mills’ bid for a third term has been called off.
Mills was facing an ethics investigation and allegations of misconduct, making his reelection bid increasingly difficult.
President Trump initially endorsed Mills in February, but did not include him in his list of supporters on Monday.
Far-right Randy Fine retains his seat
The incumbent overcame challenges from numerous candidates to win the Republican primary nomination for Florida’s 6th Congressional District.
Since being elected to Congress last year, Congressman Fine, a Trump ally, has become a symbol of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian rhetoric in mainstream American politics.
A staunchly pro-Israel lawmaker suggested last year that all Muslims should be destroyed. He encouraged starvation among children in the Gaza Strip and called on Israel to use nuclear weapons against the Palestinian territories. He faced a slew of challengers, most notably internet personality Daniel Bilzerian, who himself has faced accusations of anti-Semitism.
