Lo que nadie te contó de las primarias en Florida, Alaska y Wyoming
Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming Primaries: What Happened and Why It Matters
The Big Picture
Tuesday was a big day for politics in several states. Voters in Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming went to the polls to pick their party’s candidates for the general election in November. Think of primaries like the semifinals — the winners go on to the championship game (the general election).
Here are the main things you need to know:
Important Point: Primaries decide who represents each party in November. They don’t decide who wins the actual job yet.
Florida: The Sunshine State Showdown
Governor’s Race: Trump’s Pick vs. A Party Switcher
Republicans chose Byron Donalds. He’s a congressman and a close ally of former President Donald Trump. Trump endorsed him, and that helped a lot.
Democrats chose David Jolly. Here’s the interesting part — Jolly used to be a Republican congressman. He left the party in 2018 because he disagreed with Trump, and officially became a Democrat last year.
Important Point: Florida used to be a "swing state" (could go either way). Now it leans heavily Republican — there are 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats.
Donalds Didn’t Get 50% — And That’s Weird
Donalds won, but he didn’t get over 50% of the vote. That’s unusual for someone with Trump’s backing and support from the state party leaders.
Why does this matter?
- A Republican fundraiser told CNN they were "a little surprised"
- Some wonder if Trump’s popularity is slipping a bit
- Governor Ron DeSantis didn’t endorse anyone, but he did raise questions about Donalds during the race
Trump’s Endorsement Isn’t Magic Anymore
This is a pattern. Trump-backed candidates for governor have lost in Iowa, Minnesota, Georgia, and South Carolina. And in Florida’s 19th Congressional District, Trump’s pick (Catalina Lauf) lost to Jim Schwartzel, a local broadcasting executive.
Important Point: An endorsement is like a recommendation from a popular friend. It helps, but it doesn’t guarantee victory.
Two Controversial Republicans Lost
Cory Mills — Ethics Investigations Caught Up To Him
Rep. Cory Mills faced multiple ethics investigations:
- Campaign finance violations
- A defamation accusation
- An assault allegation
He denied everything, but two fellow Florida Republicans (Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos) endorsed his opponent, Ryan Elijah — a former news anchor. DeSantis also said he didn’t support Mills. Mills lost.
James Fishback — Too Extreme Even For A Republican Primary
Fishback, 31, ran for governor and got only about 10% of the vote. He made racist comments and attacked Donalds (who is Black) with horrible insults like "slave to his donors" and "DEI Republican."
Democratic Socialists Score A Big Win
Angie Nixon Beats Alex Vindman — Despite Being Outspent 16-to-1
This was the shocker of the night.
| Candidate | Money Raised | Cash on Hand |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Vindman | $16 million | $7 million |
| Angie Nixon | ~$1 million | $265,000 |
Vindman is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and a hero to many Democrats — he testified against Trump in the first impeachment.
Nixon is a state representative and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). She focused on:
- Ending U.S. military aid to Israel
- Fighting DeSantis’s redistricting plan (got arrested in a sit-in!)
- Universal healthcare, free childcare, rent freeze, eviction moratorium
Important Point: Nixon won because Democratic voters are angry about Gaza. Money doesn’t always win if voters are motivated by a cause.
But… Nixon Faces An Uphill Battle In November
She’ll face Republican Senator Ashley Moody in November. Florida has voted for Trump three times. Nixon’s positions (like ending aid to Israel) may not play well with the broader electorate. National Democrats probably won’t spend much money here — they’re focusing on states like Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas.
Establishment Democrats Hold Their Ground
Two incumbent congressmen fought off progressive challengers:
Jared Moskowitz (District 25)
- Backed by pro-Israel and pro-AI groups
- Beat Oliver Larkin, a 34-year-old labor organizer
- Said voters "want change, but not this kind of extremism"
- Noted his district is 25% Jewish and 20% Hispanic — many fled socialism
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (District 20)
- Former DNC chair
- Chose to run in a majority-Black district instead of her old one
- Beat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (who resigned amid ethics scandals and faces criminal charges)
- Also beat Alan Grayson (a progressive who’s tried to come back for a decade)
Important Point: Wasserman Schultz’s win means this majority-Black district likely won’t have a Black representative for the first time in 30+ years.
Alaska: The "Two Dan Sullivans" Mystery
Alaska uses a ranked-choice system — top four advance to November, voters rank them.
The Sure Things:
- Sen. Dan Sullivan (Republican, incumbent)
- Mary Peltola (Democrat, former Rep., "Fish, Family, Freedom" slogan)
The Weird Part: There’s Another Dan Sullivan
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. — a former teacher with the exact same name — is also on the ballot.
- Real senator: "Dan S. Sullivan" (Republican, incumbent listed)
- Other guy: "Daniel J. Sullivan Jr." (no party listed, but registered Republican)
Republicans tried to kick him off the ballot — failed. Trump posted telling voters to pick the "REAL Dan Sullivan" and called the other one an "impostor."
Important Point: In a close general election, even a few confused voters could make a difference. This is why names matter!
Why Alaska Matters
Democrats need to flip 4 Senate seats to get a majority. Peltola (first Alaska Native in Congress) is their best shot in a red state.
Wyoming: Trump’s Pick Loses Again
For governor, voters chose Eric Barlow (state senator) over Megan Degenfelder (state superintendent, Trump-endorsed).
But Trump’s ally Harriet Hageman (who beat Liz Cheney in 2022) easily won the Senate primary to replace retiring Sen. Cynthia Lummis.
Failed Comeback Attempts
Several former members of Congress tried to return — all failed:
| Former Member | Party | Race | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Collins | Republican | FL-19 | <10% |
| Madison Cawthorn | Republican | FL-19 | <10% |
| Jim Oberweis | Republican | FL-19 | <10% |
| Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick | Democrat | FL-20 | Lost to Wasserman Schultz |
| Alan Grayson | Democrat | FL-07 | Distant 3rd |
Summary: What Tuesday Told Us
- Trump’s endorsement still matters, but it’s not a guarantee — his picks keep losing governor races
- Florida is solidly red now — Democrats face a very steep climb
- Democratic voters are fired up about Gaza — it powered Nixon’s upset win
- Ethics problems hurt — Mills and Cherfilus-McCormick both lost
- Incumbents mostly survive — Moskowitz, Wasserman Schultz, Sullivan, Hageman all won
- Alaska’s "two Sullivans" could be a headache in November
- Former politicians can’t just waltz back in — voters said no to all comeback attempts
FAQ
What’s a primary election?
A primary is like a party meeting where members pick their champion for the main election. Only registered party members (or independents, in some states) can vote.
Why does Trump’s endorsement matter less now?
Voters are looking at candidates’ own records. Also, Trump backs different candidates in different races — sometimes they conflict with local leaders.
What are Democratic Socialists?
They’re Democrats who want bigger changes — like universal healthcare, free college, strong unions. Think Bernie Sanders or AOC. They’re still Democrats, just on the left edge.
What’s ranked-choice voting (Alaska)?
Instead of picking one person, you rank them: 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice. If your #1 loses, your vote goes to #2. Top four from the primary go to the general election.
Why did Angie Nixon win with so little money?
Voters cared deeply about Gaza and liked her local record (early education, fighting price gouging). Sometimes passion beats money.
This article is based on CNN’s coverage of the August 18, 2026 primaries in Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming.