Socialist Upsets Trump Endorsees in Mixed Primary Night Across Nation

Voters across multiple states delivered a split verdict on Tuesday night, with several Trump-endorsed candidates securing primary wins while others faced unexpected defeats in races that will shape congressional control and influence the Republican Party’s direction heading into November. Federal contests spanning from Florida to Alaska and gubernatorial primaries in three states dominated election night, prompting analysts to reassess both former President Donald Trump’s sway over Republicans and the growing influence of socialist-backed candidates within Democratic circles.

A stunning upset in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary reverberated across the state when Democratic Socialists of America member and state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated retired Air Force Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a prominent Trump critic who played a central role in the 2019 impeachment proceedings. Despite facing a nine-to-one spending disadvantage—with Vindman deploying a $16.3 million campaign fund against Nixon’s roughly $1 million—Nixon prevailed by nearly 12 points, setting up a general election matchup against Republican Sen. Ashley Moody.

Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds captured Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary with 47 percent of the vote, outdistancing Lt. Gov. Jay Collins at 25 percent and outsider James Fishback at 10.5 percent. Donalds will confront Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican congressman, in what shapes as one of the year’s most competitive statewide races.

Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, herself a Trump-endorsed candidate, secured victory in a special primary election to complete the remainder of U.S. Senate Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s term, which extends through 2028. Trump-backed Rep. Randy Fine of Florida’s 6th Congressional District also won his reelection bid without difficulty.

The night proved less successful for Trump in other Florida contests. Scandal-plagued incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, facing House Ethics Committee investigations into campaign finance violations and allegations of assault and improper gift-taking, lost his reelection bid in the 7th Congressional District to former television anchor Ryan Elijah. Mills, who has denied all wrongdoing, had received Trump’s endorsement in February.

Late Trump endorsee Catalina Lauf fell short in her attempt to claim Donalds’ seat in Florida’s 19th Congressional District, finishing second with 22 percent behind media executive Jim Schwartzel’s 29.1 percent in a five-candidate field. Businessman Jim Oberweis placed third at 15.7 percent, reigniting a rivalry with Lauf dating to their 2020 competition in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District.

In Wyoming, Trump-endorsed Rep. Harriet Hageman, the state’s at-large congresswoman, captured her Senate primary in commanding fashion, maintaining a 62-to-28 percent advantage over cattle rancher Sam Mead with 80 percent of ballots counted. However, Wyoming Republicans rejected Trump’s gubernatorial choice, elevating state Sen. Eric Barlow over his preferred candidate, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, with Barlow commanding 50 percent to Degenfelder’s 29.7 percent.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray emerged from Wyoming’s competitive House primary with 25 percent of the vote, finishing ahead of businessman Steve Freiss at 20.7 percent and Army veteran Kevin Christensen at 17.8 percent. The state’s long streak of avoiding Democratic statewide victories—spanning since 2006—is expected to continue in November.

Alaska’s non-partisan primary system sent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, despite finishing second, toward the November general election alongside former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who led by less than one percentage point. Seventeen candidates competed in the open race, with the top four advancing under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., dominated Florida’s newly redrawn 20th Congressional District Democratic primary, defeating four opponents including self-described socialist Elijah Manley, who had raised nearly $1 million and finished third behind former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness. Manley criticized Wasserman Schultz for running in a district he characterized as historically Black while residing outside its boundaries.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz dealt a decisive blow to Democratic Socialists of America inroads in his district, crushing DSA member Oliver Larkin by a 64-to-36 margin in Florida’s 25th Congressional District primary. Moskowitz, positioning himself as a centrist Democrat, denounced the socialist movement in a statement highlighting his legislative independence and willingness to challenge both his own party and the Trump administration.

Trump characterized the evening as a resounding success on his Truth Social platform, posting “A lot of great WINS tonight!!!” despite clear setbacks in multiple contested races.