Byron Donalds, Wasserman Schultz, Moskowitz election night

Rep. Byron Donalds emerged victorious in the Republican primary for governor on Tuesday night, marking a significant win in Florida’s primary elections. The eventful night in the Sunshine State saw a flurry of results, with one House incumbent losing their seat, others overcoming tough primary challenges, and a Democratic Senate candidate facing a surprising defeat at the hands of a Democratic Socialist of America member.

Here are five key insights from this dynamic primary night:

1. House incumbents from both parties withstand redistricting and extremist challenges

Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Jared Moskowitz, and Randy Fine (R-Fla.) successfully advanced to the general election despite opposition from extremist factions within their parties.

Wasserman Schultz secured her bid for a 12th House term by decisively defeating four opponents in the Democratic primary for Florida’s 20th Congressional District. Among her challengers was progressive activist Elijah Manley, who criticized her for representing the majority-minority district. Wasserman Schultz chose to run in the 20th District, which is predominantly black and Hispanic, after her previous district was redrawn to favor Republicans.

Meanwhile, Moskowitz overcame a challenge from socialist contender Oliver Larkin in Florida’s 25th Congressional District Democratic primary, dealing another blow to the party’s left-wing. Moskowitz, a two-term incumbent and prominent Jewish Democrat, received backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, while Larkin was supported by far-left streamer Hasan Piker and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY).

In Florida’s 6th District GOP primary, Fine successfully defended his seat against far-right influencer Dan Bilzerian, who controversially suggested re-evaluating Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler in a campaign ad. Bilzerian, who used derogatory terms to describe Fine in a shocking commercial, was defeated by nearly 40 percentage points.

2. (Alleged) crime doesn’t pay

Three scandal-tainted politicians—Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and former Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) and Chris Collins (R-NY)—suffered significant defeats in House primaries across Florida.

The most notable loss was Mills’ defeat by former Orlando TV news reporter Ryan Elijah in the 7th District. Mills, who was backed by Trump and is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, became the 10th House incumbent to lose a primary in this cycle.

Cherfilus-McCormick, who previously resigned after being indicted for allegedly embezzling $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds, finished a distant fourth in her comeback attempt in Florida’s 20th District.

Collins, who resigned in 2019 after pleading guilty to insider trading and lying to the FBI, was among 10 candidates competing for the GOP nomination in Florida’s 19th District, which Donalds vacated. He garnered only about 7% of the vote, with the victory going to local broadcasting magnate Jim Schwartzel.

3. The anti-Trump ‘resistance’ loses an icon

Florida state lawmaker and DSA member Angie Nixon pulled off a surprising win against retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman in the special Democratic Senate primary, delivering a significant victory for the far left amid an otherwise disappointing night in Florida.

Vindman, a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment trial, had positioned himself as a prominent anti-Trump figure. In his campaign launch, he emphasized his role in testifying against a president he accused of wrongdoing.

Former President Trump expressed delight over Vindman’s defeat, posting on Truth Social, “SleazeBag Vindman loses tonight to a Radical Left Lunatic. How cool is that???”

Nixon will compete against incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) in November, with the winner serving the remainder of Marco Rubio’s six-year term won in 2022.

4. Republicans poised to challenge Democrats in new, GOP-friendly districts

Mid-decade redistricting has favored Republicans in four Florida congressional districts currently held by Democrats, setting the stage for potential GOP gains in the November elections.

Former state Rep. Mike Beltran won the GOP primary in Florida’s 14th Congressional District and will challenge Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) in the fall.

The GOP primary in Florida’s 9th Congressional District remains too close to call, with Dan Green slightly ahead of Ben Butler. The winner will face Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) in the general election.

In Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, businessman Casey Askar emerged victorious in the GOP primary and will face Democrat Pia Dandiya in November.

Former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer secured the GOP nomination in Florida’s 25th Congressional District and will compete against Moskowitz in what promises to be a highly competitive race.

5. Race to replace DeSantis set

Byron Donalds, who consistently led in polls throughout the campaign, decisively won the Florida Republican primary for governor. He is now the frontrunner to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tallahassee.

Endorsed by Trump, Donalds secured victory over 10 other candidates, earning 47.8% of the vote. He nearly doubled the votes of Sunshine State Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who received 25.2%. Far-right former investor James Fishback and former state House Speaker Paul Renner trailed far behind.

Donalds will face former Rep. David Jolly, who won the Democratic gubernatorial primary, in November.

The last Democrat to serve as Florida governor was Buddy MacKay, who ended his term in January 1999. Lawton Chiles was the last Democrat elected to the position, securing a second term in 1994.

If Donalds triumphs in November, he will be the first black governor in Florida’s history.