Primaries in Florida and Alaska delivered several surprising outcomes that will shape November’s midterms. Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for Florida governor while former GOP congressman David Jolly captured the Democratic nod. Left-leaning Angie Nixon upset Alex Vindman and will face Republican Ashley Moody for the Senate seat. In Alaska, incumbent Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola were projected as the top two finishers.
Florida Governor Matchup Set; Left-Wing Upsets and an Unusual Alaska Name-Scramble Mark US Primaries
Republican Bryon Donalds has the backing of US President Donald Trump in his quest to become Florida governor [Getty Images]
Primary elections in Florida and Alaska produced a string of surprising and consequential results on Tuesday, shaping several high-profile November matchups and highlighting broader trends in this year’s midterm season.
Key Victories in Florida
Byron Donalds, a sitting Republican congressman backed by former President Donald Trump, was projected to win the GOP nomination for Florida governor. On the Democratic side, former Republican congressman David Jolly — who publicly broke with his former party and criticized Mr. Trump before switching affiliation — took the Democratic nomination. The pairing sets up a November contest in a state Democrats have not won at the governor level since 1999.
In another high-profile Florida contest, state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist Angie Nixon pulled off an upset over Alex Vindman, the retired US official who drew national attention as a witness in President Trump’s first impeachment. Nixon will now face Republican Ashley Moody for a US Senate seat. Moody, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Marco Rubio (noted in coverage as serving as Secretary of State), won her GOP primary comfortably and is seeking her first full term.
David Jolly will hope to reverse recent history in his bid to be Florida governor [Getty Images]
The Sunshine State also saw an upset in a House primary: incumbent Republican Cory Mills — who faced an investigation by the House Ethics Committee and allegations of domestic abuse that he denies — was projected to have lost his primary. Media outlets projected former TV reporter Ryan Elijah as the likely winner; he will face Democrat Bale Dalton, a former US Navy captain and NASA official, in November.
Alaska’s Name-Confusion Race
In Alaska, Republicans monitored a peculiar contest in which incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan was challenged by a little-known candidate with a nearly identical name listed on ballots as Daniel J Sullivan, Jr. Critics warned the namesake might siphon votes through confusion. In the state’s open primary — featuring candidates from both parties on the same ballot with the top four advancing — projections from CBS News and other outlets indicated incumbent Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola finished as the top two, with the third- and fourth-place finishers still to be confirmed.
Why These Results Matter
These primary outcomes will influence which party controls the US Congress and could affect the broader political environment leading into the presidential landscape.
Together, the Florida and Alaska results underscore two notable forces shaping this primary season: insurgent left-wing candidates beating centrist Democrats in some races, and unusual campaign dynamics — from ethics probes to ballot-name strategies — altering expected outcomes. Voters will weigh these nominees and contests in November as control of the Senate and House, and the direction of national politics, remain at stake.
Additional reporting by Grace Eliza Goodwin
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