Republicans and Democrats Clinch Key Primary Wins in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming
In Tuesday’s primaries, Florida Republicans nominated Trump-backed Byron Donalds for governor while Democrats chose former Republican David Jolly; Democratic socialists secured a Senate primary win, and Alaska’s Senate race advanced incumbent Dan Sullivan and former Rep. Mary Peltola to the general election.
Republicans in Florida selected Rep. Byron Donalds, a Trump-endorsed candidate, as their nominee to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds, who raised more than $100 million in the primary, emphasized property-tax reform and alignment with the Trump administration, while praising DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott. > "We put aside our differences tonight. We are one united Republican Party," Donalds said after his victory.
Democrats nominated former Rep. David Jolly, who left the GOP in 2018, for the governor’s race. Jolly described his win as the start of a new political coalition in Florida.
In the state’s Senate primary, Democratic socialist state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, despite being outspent. Nixon’s campaign focused on ending U.S. military aid to Israel and expanding social programs such as Medicare for All and free childcare.
Two incumbent Florida House members, Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, won primaries in newly drawn districts, defeating progressive challengers.
In Alaska, the Decision Desk projected that incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan and former Rep. Mary Peltola, a former Alaska Native congresswoman, will move on to the ranked-choice general election. A second candidate named Dan Sullivan also appeared on the ballot, prompting President Trump to urge voters to select the “real” Dan Sullivan.
Wyoming’s Republican gubernatorial primary favored state Sen. Eric Barlow over the Trump-endorsed Megan Degenfelder. Meanwhile, Rep. Harriet Hageman, a Trump-backed candidate, easily secured the GOP Senate nomination.
Other notable outcomes included the defeat of Rep. Cory Mills, who faced multiple ethics investigations, by former news anchor Ryan Elijah, and the loss of Trump-backed Catalina Lauf in Florida’s 19th District to Jim Schwartzel.
Overall, the primaries highlighted mixed results for candidates endorsed by President Trump and underscored the growing influence of democratic socialists in certain Democratic contests.