Rep. Jared Moskowitz has won the Democratic primary in Florida's 25th Congressional District, defeating Oliver Larkin, a union organizer supported by the Democratic Socialists of America. The victory is seen as a setback for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party's efforts to unseat moderate incumbents.
With 85% of the vote tallied, Moskowitz held 64.2% support compared to Larkin's 35.8%. Most polls had predicted a wider margin of victory for Moskowitz, though one Democratic-sponsored survey by the Center for Strategic Politics showed the incumbent leading by only two percentage points.
Moskowitz, a two-term incumbent, received backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Larkin, who previously worked on Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, was endorsed by streamer Hasan Piker and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
Larkin had criticized Moskowitz for referring to himself as a "DeSantis Democrat," a nod to Moskowitz's past role as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. In contrast, Larkin advocated for policies such as "Medicare for All," the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the elimination of the U.S. Senate. He also called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, describing the conflict in Gaza as a "genocide," and advocated for taxing billionaires "out of existence."
Moskowitz has a voting record in favor of U.S. aid to Israel and has condemned those within his party who characterize the conflict following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack as genocide. The Cook Political Report lists Florida's 25th Congressional District as one of four Democratic seats considered a "toss-up" that could influence control of the House in the upcoming midterms.
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