Florida primaries test Democrats in Trump stronghold

Florida voters cast primary ballots Tuesday in races testing whether Democrats can regain ground in a state that has moved to the right, while Republicans try to use a redrawn congressional map to protect their narrow House majority in November.

President Donald Trump carried Florida by 13 points in 2024, and Republicans dominate statewide offices there. Democrats need a net gain of three seats nationally to retake the House of Representatives.

A mid-decade redistricting pushed through by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has created four clear opportunities for Republicans to flip Democratic-held House seats. NBC elections analyst Steve Kornacki wrote that Republicans could alter the national House math if their Florida map “bears fruit”.

The new boundaries have forced several Democratic incumbents into more Republican territory. Two are seeking reelection in districts Trump carried comfortably in 2024, and another is running in a newly configured conservative district against a democratic socialist challenger.

Former Republican congressman David Jolly, now a Democrat and a Trump critic, is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. On the Republican side, Trump-backed congressman Byron Donalds faces businessman James Fishback.

The Democratic Senate primary includes retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a central witness in Trump's first impeachment, and a left-wing state legislator.

Alaska is also holding primaries for Senate and House, while Wyoming Republicans are choosing nominees for governor, Senate and an open House seat. California voters are deciding a special congressional election between two Democrats seeking to replace Eric Swalwell.

Trump voted by mail in Florida's Republican primary despite repeatedly denouncing the practice and pushing to restrict its use. The White House said there was no contradiction because Trump was away from his home state.