Key facts
- Two Republican House candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump lost their primary bids in Florida on Tuesday.
- Rep. Cory Mills lost his seat to former news anchor Ryan Elijah.
- Catalina Lauf was the other Trump-backed candidate to lose a primary bid, falling to Jim Schwartzel.
- Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won her party's nomination for re-election.
- Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for Florida governor, endorsed by Trump.
- Former Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic nomination for Florida governor.
Tuesday's primary elections in Florida saw significant outcomes for both parties, with two Republican House candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump failing to secure nominations. Rep. Cory Mills lost his seat to former news anchor Ryan Elijah, while Catalina Lauf was defeated by businessman Jim Schwartzel. Both had received Trump's backing.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won her party's nomination for re-election. In the race for Florida governor, Republicans nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, a close ally of Trump, while Democrats selected former Rep. David Jolly, who recently switched parties.
Donalds enters the general election with significant advantages in fundraising and registered Republican voters in Florida. His campaign focused on property tax reforms and data center regulations. However, his failure to secure over 50% of the vote in the primary, despite Trump's endorsement and establishment support, has raised questions about potential vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, Democratic socialist influence was noted with state Rep. Angie Nixon's victory in a Senate primary. Two Democratic House incumbents also survived challenges from the left. The results across Florida's primaries suggest a potentially more competitive landscape than anticipated, particularly for some Trump-backed candidates.