Florida is poised to witness a significant political battle as it hosts primaries across the state, focusing on Governor Ron DeSantis’s leadership and Senate races. Three states are currently holding primaries, with Florida deciding its nominees for both governor and for Senate. In Alaska, Sen. Dan Sullivan is facing a competitive field, including one who shares his name, and the nonpartisan top-four primary is drawing considerable attention.
Florida’s political landscape has been characterized by a shift from a swing state to a solidly Republican state, particularly under Governor DeSantis’s administration. As of 2022, DeSantis’s victory by less than a single point transformed Florida from a state considered competitive to being overwhelmingly Republican. By 2022, he won by 20 points, solidifying Florida’s position as a Republican stronghold.
Today, Florida’s primary season includes races in new congressional districts, following a recent congressional map adjustment orchestrated by the Republican-controlled legislature. This new district boundary adjustment gives Republicans an advantage in 24 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts, a significant shift from the state’s past history.
This election is particularly noteworthy, as Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since 1994, and DeSantis is prevented from running again due to term limits. In 2018, DeSantis won by less than a single point, and by 2022, he won by 20 points, solidifying Florida’s Republican dominance.
Florida’s Republican primary race includes notable contenders like Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and far-right activist James Fishback, who are challenging Donalds. Collins, a prominent figure in the ‘groyper’ movement, has branded himself as a ‘Make America Great Again’ member, attracting support from Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson. Donalds, however, has not endorsed any of these challengers, and Collins has strategically positioned himself as a potential second-place candidate.
Meanwhile, Donalds has amassed a significant war chest, raising $90 million, and has a commanding lead in polls. Collins has tried earlier this summer to remove Fishback from the ballot, alleging Fishback hadn’t met the state’s seven-year minimum residency requirement, but the case was thrown out by a judge. Fishback, a 31-year-old Florida native, has gained momentum among young men in the ‘groyper’ movement online and has support from Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson. He has taunted Donalds with racist comments, calling him a ‘slave to donors,’ a ‘token Black,’ and accusing him of wanting to turn Florida into a ‘Section 8 ghetto.’
As the well-funded front-runner, Donalds generally doesn’t acknowledge Fishback’s comments. Fishback has raised little money and doesn’t stand much of a chance of succeeding on Tuesday, but he has pushed white nationalism into the governor’s race and caused a splinter in the GOP.
Across the aisle, six Democrats are vying for the nomination, with former Republican Rep. David Jolly as the front-runner. Jolly represented the St. Petersburg area from 2014 to 2016, and is the second prominent Republican-turned-Democrat to run for governor in Florida in two cycles. In 2022, former Gov. Charlie Crist – who served as a Republican as governor before becoming a Democrat and defeating Jolly in the 2016 election – lost to DeSantis by nearly 20 points. Crist is now running for St. Petersburg mayor.
Moody, the former Democratic governor, faces three Republican challengers on Tuesday. He’s expected to win the nomination, but he is facing a House Ethics Committee probe for allegations related to federal contracting violations, stolen valor and assault. He has been accused of assault by a woman who filed a police report last year, and a former girlfriend filed a restraining order against him. He has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.
Democrats Alex Vindman and Angie Nixon are duking it out for the Democratic nomination. Vindman, a retired lieutenant colonel, served on the National Security Council as an expert on Ukraine during Mr. Trump’s first term. He testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in 2019, testifying he heard Mr. Trump on a phone call pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden. Vindman was later forced out at the NSC. His brother, Eugene, who also reported the phone call as being improper, was elected to Congress in 2024 from Virginia.
Nixon, a state representative from Jacksonville, led the Democratic protest against DeSantis’s new congressional map, which favored Republicans in four more districts. A labor organizer, she’s touting her progressive support, including from unions and progressive Rep. Maxwell Frost, who represents the Orlando area.
Moderate Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the district’s winner, has three GOP primary challengers. Moskowitz faces a House Ethics Committee probe for allegations related to federal contracting violations, stolen valor and assault. He has been accused of assault by a woman who filed a police report last year, and a former girlfriend filed a restraining order against him. He has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.
The seat is currently vacant after former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned earlier this year moments before the House Ethics Committee was set to determine whether she should be sanctioned for allegations of theft and other misconduct. But despite resigning less than six months ago, Cherfilus-McCormick is still in the race, and the Alaska Supreme Court determined that Daniel J. Sullivan can appear on the ballot, saying his candidacy appears to be in good faith.
With Hageman vacating her seat, nine Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination and two Democrats are competing for their nomination.
The money raised in the race shows the front-runners: Peltola has raised more than $18 million so far, while the incumbent Sen. Sullivan has brought in more than $11 million. The other Daniel J. Sullivan has raised $18,000.
Despite the large sums already raised by Peltola, her campaign has some eyebrows raised in the past week. Former Vice President Kamala Harris sent around a fundraising email for Peltola, but her campaign told national media that they had not approved the fundraising pitch as she seeks to distinguish herself as an independent.
One-term Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis is not running for reelection, leaving open one of the safest GOP seats in the country. Mr. Trump has endorsed Harriet Hageman, whom he also backed to unseat former Rep. Liz Cheney in 2022 for the state’s at-large House seat.
Hageman vacating her seat, nine Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination and two Democrats are competing for their nomination.
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Source: CBS News
