Florida primary upsets set stage for November midterm elections

Tuesday's primaries set the stage for several key November races as Republicans fight to maintain their majorities in Congress and Democrats look to flip seats.

(NBC)- In Florida’s U.S. Senate race, Democratic Socialists of America member Angie Nixon defeated prominent Democrat Lt. Col. Alex Vindman despite being outspent 16-to-1.

The victory marks another win for the growing progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

“We have proved that everyday people are more powerful than the corporations and billionaires,” Nixon said.

Nixon will face Trump-backed incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody in the general election.

Also in Florida, Rep. Byron Donalds is projected to win the Republican nomination for governor. Donalds, who has represented Florida in Congress since 2021, was backed by President Donald Trump. Following a contentious primary, Donalds called for Republicans to unite ahead of November.

“But tonight the primary is over,” Donalds said. “Tonight we put aside our differences.”

Donalds is expected to face projected Democratic nominee David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who left the GOP during Trump’s first term. Jolly has focused his campaign on appealing to Democrats and independents while emphasizing affordability. In Alaska, Democrats are hoping to pick up a U.S. Senate seat, with Democrat Mary Peltola facing longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Under Alaska’s top-four primary system, however, another candidate named Dan Sullivan could also advance to the general election as a Republican. The second Sullivan, a former teacher who goes by Dan J. Sullivan, has drawn criticism from the incumbent senator.

“This fake Dan Sullivan guy is not in it to win it,” Sen. Sullivan said.

The races will help determine the balance of power in Washington following November’s midterm elections.