Florida Primaries: Trump’s Shadow Looms as Democrats Battle to Reclaim a Rightward State
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Florida voters chose party nominees for governor, Senate, and Congress, with Republicans clinging to Trump’s divisive endorsement and Democrats fighting to restore democracy and diversity in a state veering dangerously to the right.
On Tuesday, Florida held its primary elections, a pivotal moment that exposed the deepening grip of Trumpism on the Republican Party and the uphill struggle of Democrats to reclaim a state that has become a conservative stronghold since 2016. The primaries determined nominees for governor, a U.S. Senate special election, and several congressional seats, all under the shadow of President Donald Trump’s reactionary influence.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican, is shamelessly leveraging Trump’s endorsement in his bid for governor, running against establishment figure Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and political newcomer James Fishback. Donalds, who could become Florida’s first Black governor, has focused his campaign on regressive tax cuts, insurance reforms that benefit corporations, and so-called health-care price transparency—policies that do little for working families.
"The people of Florida want to make sure that the Florida dream is alive and well into the future," Donalds said, echoing Trump’s empty promises.
On the Democratic side, the leading candidate is David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties last year. Jolly’s candidacy is a testament to the Democratic Party’s willingness to embrace former conservatives in hopes of winning back a state lost to right-wing extremism.
For the Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio, two Democrats are competing: progressive state legislator Angie Nixon, who champions real change, and retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, a former National Security Council official known for his courageous testimony during Trump’s first impeachment trial.
Incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody, handpicked by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill Rubio’s seat, seeks the Republican nomination with Trump’s backing, further cementing the party’s loyalty to authoritarianism.
In congressional races, longtime Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running in a newly drawn, majority-Black district in Broward County. She is the only white candidate among four Black challengers, including former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who is running despite a pending federal indictment—a reminder of the obstacles faced by candidates of color in a system stacked against them.
"Representation matters and lived experience matters. But experience and making sure that you have someone who has the seniority and the seasoning to be able to deliver for a district, it matters as well," Wasserman Schultz said, highlighting the need for both diversity and effective leadership.
Republican Rep. Cory Mills, a hardliner seeking a third term in the 7th district, faces three primary opponents after Gov. DeSantis refused to endorse him, signaling fractures within the GOP’s far-right ranks.
"I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills," DeSantis said, exposing internal party tensions.
Voter turnout will be a crucial indicator of whether Florida can resist further rightward drift. With Republicans now outnumbering Democrats, the stakes are high for progressives and marginalized communities, especially in swing areas like Miami-Dade County, where every vote could help restore balance and protect democracy.