Florida voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday for a primary election that will determine nominees for key races, including the open race for governor, and will be the first electoral test of new congressional maps drawn to favor Republicans. The contests also feature a congressman facing ethics investigations and a socialist challenging a Democratic incumbent.
New congressional maps, implemented since the last election, are expected to provide a Republican advantage in four House districts. These districts include Florida's 14th, 9th, 22nd, and 25th Congressional Districts.
In the race to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who has received President Trump's endorsement, is leading the Republican field by a significant margin, according to polling averages. Donalds, who entered Congress in 2021, has raised substantial funds for his campaign. If elected, he would be Florida's first Black governor. On the Democratic side, former Republican Rep. David Jolly, who has since run as an independent and joined the Forward Party before registering as a Democrat, is considered the favorite to win the nomination.
Several incumbent House Democrats face challenges. In the 20th Congressional District, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, is running in a new district and faces multiple challengers, including former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from the House earlier this year and faces federal indictment on 15 counts related to her alleged misuse of COVID-19 relief funds for personal and campaign expenses, with a trial scheduled for February. Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, a notable rapper, is also challenging Wasserman Schultz.
U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, representing Florida's 7th Congressional District, is seeking re-election amidst allegations of domestic assault and "stolen valor." Mills is reportedly under investigation by the Justice Department and faces scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee. He denies any wrongdoing and has received multiple endorsements from President Trump.
In a newly drawn district, the 25th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz is facing a primary challenge from Oliver Larkin, a self-described socialist endorsed by streamer Hasan Piker and YouTuber Ms. Rachel. Larkin, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, advocates for policies such as abolishing the Senate and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Moskowitz, who has served in the House since 2023, is a supporter of Israel and has the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Moskowitz holds a fundraising and polling advantage heading into the election.