A democratic socialist win and losses for Trump allies: takeaways from primaries in three key states
Elections in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming provide a sense of how voters are feeling ahead of November’s midterms
Primaries in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming held on Tuesday provided the latest view into how voters are feeling ahead of November’s US midterm elections
One candidate aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) netted an extraordinary win while another was defeated handily. Donald Trump’s handpicked candidates received a mixed reception from voters. In Alaska, voters chose their fighters for one of the year’s marquee US Senate races, and in Florida, extremism remained alive and well among Republicans
Here’s what we learned from the results:
In a shocking upset, state representative Angie Nixon beat Alexander Vindman for the Democratic nomination in Florida’s US Senate race, becoming the first member of the DSA to win a statewide primary, although the group did not endorse her
Her odds of victory in November against Republican Ashley Moody appear long, but Nixon’s win was the latest sign that Democratic voters are willing to buck the preferences of their party’s establishment in favor of candidates whose policies and personalities they prefer. Vindman, known for his role as a whistleblower during Trump’s first term, had a significant cash advantage and backing from leading Democrats, yet lost by awide margin
2.The US Senate battle is set in Alaska
As expected, Republican senator Dan Sullivan won his primary in Alaska, and former congresswoman Mary Peltola won the Democratic nomination to take him on in what will be one of the top US Senate contests of the year
The state conducts nonpartisan primaries in which the top four vote-getters advance, and while counting is not complete, the Associated Press reports that another Republican candidate named Dan Sullivan and Democrat David B Leslie are in the lead to appear on the November ballot
In what may be a troubling sign for Sullivan in the midterms, Peltola led him in the primary, winning 48% of the vote to the Republican senator’s 42.8%
3.No clear answers for progressives
Progressives did not win everywhere. In south Florida, Democratic congressman Jared Moskowitz won his primary, easily beating DSA-endorsed challenger Oliver Larkin
In the hours that followed, the congressman harshly criticized the DSA and the popular streamer Hasan Piker for campaigning against his renomination, arguing that because his district has been gerrymandered by Florida’s legislature to be more easily winnable for Republicans, he’s the best candidate to keep it in Democrats’ hands in the US midterm elections
4.Democrats continue to show strength down the ballot
A handful of local and special elections offered further evidence that Democratic voters were fired up this year. Pennsylvania statehouse candidate Brandon Dukes won a special election against his Republican opponent Scott Timko, in a seat Trump carried by 18 percentage points in 2024
And though Florida has become increasingly conservative and Republican in the past decade, Democrats ousteda Moms for Liberty board member in Sarasota and won an at-large city council seat in Jacksonville
5.Extremism in the Republican party was on display
The primary elections included several extremist candidates. Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, backed by neo-Nazi influencer Nick Fuentes, lost badly in the Republican primary, but still picked up support in precincts around college campuses
Election denier Chuck Gray won his bid for the at-large US House seat in Wyoming. Congressman Randy Fine, who has been criticized for Islamophobic and homophobic statements, survived a primary challenge from antisemitic and transphobic influencer and businessman Dan Bilzerian
6.Trump endorsees lose
Several candidates Trump had endorsed were not to voters’ tastes. The president had backed state superintendent of public instruction Megan Degenfelder in Wyoming’s Republican gubernatorial primary, but she lost to state senator Eric Barlow
Congressman Cory Mills lost his primary in Florida to former TV reporter Ryan Elijah, while a former official from Trump’s first term, Catalina Lauf, failed in a bid for a nomination to the US House
7.House GOP solves a problem named Cory Mills
Mills’s primary loss is notable also because it solves a problem for House Republicans without dealing further damage to their razor-thin majority. The second-term congressman had been under investigation by the House ethics committee for a range of misconduct, and has faced allegations of domestic assault and fraud
While some House lawmakers had hinted that he should resign, as threeother lawmakers facing similar allegations did earlier this year, Mills’s departure could have jeopardized the GOP’s control of the chamber. Instead, two of his Republican colleagues endorsed his successful primary challenger, and Millss’s time in the House will end at the start of next year
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