Voters in Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming will head to the polls Tuesday for primary elections that will determine the final candidate lists for crucial Senate, House, and gubernatorial races later this year. These elections are expected to significantly narrow the fields in several key contests.
In Alaska, Senator Dan Sullivan faces a nonpartisan, top-four primary where more than a dozen candidates are vying for advancement to the general election. Among the challengers is another Republican also named Dan Sullivan, who successfully challenged a state ruling that sought to remove him from the ballot due to concerns his candidacy was intended to mislead voters. He has denied these allegations, stating his right to use his own name. Former Democratic Representative Mary Peltola is also competing in this crowded primary. Republican Representative Nick Begich III is seeking reelection to the state's sole House seat, while his uncle, former state Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, is running for governor as a Democrat.
Florida's primaries mark the first election since the state's congressional districts were redrawn by the Republican-controlled legislature, creating more GOP-friendly seats. Republicans are aiming to gain control of at least four additional House districts following this redistricting. Several Democratic incumbents now find themselves in new districts that would have favored Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. On the Republican side for House races, incumbent Cory Mills faces a challenge, and for the seat vacated by Representative Byron Donalds, who is running for governor, two former House members are among the candidates. One of these candidates, Catalina Lauf, has received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Wyoming's primaries will see Representative Harriet Hageman, who previously challenged former GOP Representative Liz Cheney with Trump's backing, giving up her House seat to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis. Trump has endorsed Hageman in this Senate race. Nine Republicans and two Democrats are contesting the primaries for Hageman's House seat. In the gubernatorial race, four Republicans are competing to succeed Governor Mark Gordon, who is term-limited, with the winner set to face Democrat Kenneth Casner in November.