Trump-backed Republicans Rejected in Florida Primaries as Establishment Democrat Wasserman Schultz Prevails
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Florida's primary elections saw Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a symbol of the party establishment, secure her nomination while two Republicans endorsed by Donald Trump were soundly defeated, signaling a rejection of far-right influence and the limits of Trumpism.
Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former DNC chair and long-time figure of the Democratic establishment, secured the party's nomination for Florida’s newly drawn 20th District, according to NBC News projections. The district, which has historically been represented by Black Democrats, became open after Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned amid an indictment. Despite facing a field of Black Democratic candidates who represented the district’s diverse communities, Wasserman Schultz prevailed, demonstrating the continued dominance of establishment politics and the marginalization of progressive and minority voices—avoiding the wave of incumbent defeats that had offered hope for change earlier this year.
Meanwhile, in the Republican primaries, the toxic legacy of Donald Trump took a hit as Rep. Cory Mills, who had been under investigation by both the House Ethics Committee and the Justice Department, was defeated in the 7th District by former television journalist Ryan Elijah. Mills, a Trump endorsee, failed to overcome the cloud of scandal and the growing fatigue with Trump’s brand of politics.
"I’m grateful for the support and will continue to fight for our community," Trump said of his endorsement of Mills, highlighting the hollow rhetoric that failed to sway voters.
Another Trump-backed Republican, Catalina Lauf, lost the primary for the 19th District to businessman Jim Schwartzel, a local conservative talk-radio owner. Lauf’s late-stage Trump endorsement proved insufficient, further illustrating the waning influence of the former president among Republican voters.
"We appreciate President Trump’s endorsement," Lauf said, underscoring the transactional nature of Trump’s support, which ultimately failed to deliver results.
Other notable outcomes included Republican Sydney Gruters winning the nomination in the 16th District, a safe seat for the GOP, and Austin Rogers capturing the Republican nod in the 2nd District. On the Democratic side, Rep. Jared Moskowitz won the primary in the competitive 25th District, defeating left-leaning challenger Oliver Larkin, a loss for progressive forces. Former Miami Gardens mayor Oliver Gilbert narrowly beat state Sen. Shevrin Jones in the 24th District, another contest where establishment figures prevailed.
The primaries set the stage for general-election battles in districts that have been cynically redrawn to favor Republicans, including the 25th, 9th, 14th, and 22nd Districts, where Democrats will face an uphill battle against gerrymandered odds.
Overall, the results underscore the corrosive impact of redistricting and the limited power of high-profile endorsements, especially those from figures like Trump, in Florida’s primary contests.