FLORIDA AND ALASKA PRIMARIES SHARPEN MIDTERM MAP

Developing story: Final vote totals, recount questions, Justice Department activity and party spending decisions may change as primary results are certified.

Tuesday’s primaries in Florida and Alaska sharpened the midterm map, giving Republicans signs of continued strength in Florida while Democrats pointed to Alaska as a potential Senate pickup. Reuters and the Associated Press reported that the results showed both Democratic factional tension and continuing Republican advantage in key states ahead of November.

In Florida, progressive Democrat Angie Nixon defeated Alex Vindman in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, according to Reuters. Vindman had raised more than $16 million and was seen by some party strategists as a stronger general-election candidate. Nixon raised less than $1 million but capitalized on dissatisfaction with party leadership and the energy of the Democratic left.

The upset makes Florida a more difficult target for Democrats. Reuters noted that Republicans hold a voter-registration advantage of about 1.5 million in the state, and nonpartisan analysts viewed Vindman as more likely to appeal to centrist voters. Nixon will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who won the GOP nomination to complete the term previously held by Marco Rubio.

Florida’s broader results reinforced Republican dominance. Reuters reported that Republican candidates drew roughly 1.6 million votes in statewide U.S. Senate and governor contests, compared with about 1.2 million for Democratic candidates. The first election under a new Republican-backed congressional map also strengthened GOP hopes of adding House seats.

The governor’s race is now set between Republican Rep. Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican. Donalds won the GOP nomination to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis and could become Florida’s first Black governor if elected, the Associated Press reported. Jolly’s win shows Florida Democrats again turning to a former Republican in a difficult statewide environment.

Alaska gave Democrats a different signal. Reuters reported that centrist Democrat Mary Peltola led the nonpartisan U.S. Senate primary with about 48 percent of the vote, ahead of Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan at about 42.8 percent with 93 percent of precincts reporting. The two will face each other in the ranked-choice general election.

The Alaska contest also carries an election-integrity and voter-confusion subplot. Reuters reported that another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan was in third place and that Republicans accused him of entering the race to confuse voters, while he denied any intent to mislead. A source familiar with the matter said the Justice Department is investigating.

What is confirmed is that Florida produced a left-wing Democratic Senate upset and Alaska produced a strong showing for Peltola under its top-four system. What remains unresolved is whether Democratic enthusiasm can offset Republican structural advantages and whether the Alaska name-confusion controversy becomes a significant issue before ranked-choice voting in November.

Fact-check date: August 19, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Reuters; Associated Press. Developing note: Final vote totals, recount questions, Justice Department activity and party spending decisions may change as primary results are certified.