TUESDAY PRIMARIES TEST EARLY VOTE SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA, ALASKA AND WYOMING

Developing story: Turnout, early-vote totals, poll-closing times and AP race calls may change throughout primary day and night.

Tuesday’s primaries in Florida, Alaska, California and Wyoming will test several election-administration issues that have become central to the 2026 midterm cycle: early voting, mail ballots, redistricting, party rules and the timing of result releases. The Associated Press said voters will choose nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor and other offices, while California’s 14th District will choose a replacement for former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell.

Florida is the main national focus because it combines statewide contests, congressional redistricting and a large early-vote share. AP reported that voters will select nominees to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and complete the remainder of Marco Rubio’s former U.S. Senate term. The state is also holding its first congressional primaries under a new Republican-drawn map.

The Republican governor primary is shaped by the rivalry between DeSantis and Trump. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has Trump’s endorsement and a major fundraising advantage, while Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is closely aligned with DeSantis. Democrats are choosing among candidates including former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly and progressive contenders seeking to redirect a weakened state party.

Florida’s vote-counting process will be watched closely because the state releases early and mail votes quickly. AP reported that about 663,000 Republican ballots and 610,000 Democratic ballots had already been cast as of Friday. In the 2024 U.S. Senate primaries, early and mail ballots made up about 63 percent of the Republican primary vote and 77 percent of the Democratic primary vote.

That release pattern can shape public perception. Counties usually report early in-person and mail voting in their first updates, often before Election Day votes. In a climate where late or lopsided ballot batches are quickly interpreted through partisan suspicion, explaining the order of vote releases is as important as the totals themselves.

Alaska offers a different test because of its top-four primary system and ranked-choice general election. Voters will choose candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor and state legislative contests, as well as a ballot measure tied to campaign-contribution limits. Its structure makes party control and voter coalitions less straightforward than in closed-primary states.

Wyoming’s primary highlights Trump’s influence in a heavily Republican state, while California’s 14th District special election tests a Democratic seat opened by Swalwell’s departure. Together, the contests will offer signals about candidate strength, turnout and party factions, though they should not be overstated as national predictions.

What is confirmed is that Tuesday’s primaries will occur under different voting systems and that early and mail ballots will heavily influence the first Florida results. What remains unresolved is whether the contests produce clear midterm signals or another round of disputes over turnout, result timing and party direction.

Fact-check date: August 18, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Associated Press. Developing note: Turnout, early-vote totals, poll-closing times and AP race calls may change throughout primary day and night.