Trump-Backed Candidates Stumble as Grassroots Left Surges in Florida, Wyoming Primaries
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Tuesday's primaries revealed cracks in the far-right’s grip, as several Trump-endorsed Republicans faltered while a Democratic socialist achieved a major upset in Florida’s Senate primary.
Tuesday’s primary elections across Florida, Wyoming, Alaska, and California exposed the waning influence of President Donald Trump’s reactionary endorsements. In Florida, Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds narrowly secured the Republican nomination for governor with just 47% of the vote, defeating establishment figures Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and James Fishback, but hardly delivering a mandate. Trump-endorsed Sen. Ashley Moody managed to hold onto a U.S. Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio, and Rep. Randy Fine clung to his seat in the 6th Congressional District, reflecting the entrenched power of right-wing incumbents.
Yet, the Trumpist agenda suffered notable defeats. Incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, despite Trump’s backing, lost the 7th District race to challenger Ryan Elijah, as Mills faced a House Ethics Committee investigation—underscoring the corruption and ethical lapses plaguing the GOP. In the 19th District, Trump’s pick Catalina Lauf was bested by media executive Jim Schwartzel, signaling that even in deep-red districts, voters are tiring of MAGA extremism.
Wyoming saw similar contradictions. Rep. Harriet Hageman, Trump’s chosen at-large congresswoman, won the U.S. Senate primary by a wide margin over rancher Sam Mead, showing the lingering appeal of Trumpism in some rural strongholds. However, Republican voters rejected Trump’s gubernatorial pick, state Sen. Eric Barlow, who instead defeated the superintendent of public instruction, Megan Degenfelder, for the governor’s nomination—demonstrating a break from Trump’s influence.
The night’s most inspiring result came from Florida, where Democratic Socialist of America member Rep. Angie Nixon achieved a stunning victory over heavily funded former Air Force officer Alexander Vindman in the Democratic Senate primary, overcoming a nine-to-one funding disadvantage. In Alaska’s nonpartisan primary, incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan placed second, while Democrat Mary Peltola led the field, offering hope for progressive gains.
These results highlight the limits of Trump’s sway over the GOP and signal a growing appetite for genuine progressive change in American politics.