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Who won and lost in Florida primaries: Key takeaways

Al Jazeera (Al Jazeera Staff, AP and Reuters) · back to the audit
Florida's primary elections have been a mixed bag of surprises and expected outcomes, highlighting the tensions in both major US parties as they prepare for November's midterm elections.

The contests held on Tuesday were the first conducted under the state's newly redrawn congressional map, which observers say was designed to favour Republicans and could leave Democrats with a minuscule number of Florida's 28 House seats.

## Progressive wins in major upset

Nixon's victory over Vindman is another sign that progressive candidates are starting to break through against better-funded establishment rivals.

Nixon, a state lawmaker and former labour activist, raised less than $1m, while Vindman outraised her by more than 16 to 1. Vindman was nationally known for his testimony during Trump's first impeachment hearing in 2019, while Nixon had built her profile in Florida politics and among progressives. She was backed by prominent progressive figures, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

Nixon will now face Republican Senator Ashley Moody in November in a special election for the final two years of former Senator Marco Rubio's term. Rubio vacated the seat after becoming Trump's secretary of state.

## Trump-backed Donalds wins

Republicans had a clearer result in the governor's race, where Trump-backed Congressman Byron Donalds won the nomination to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis.

Donalds is now set to face Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican who later became an independent before joining the Democratic Party. If Donalds wins in November, he would become Florida's first Black governor.

Donalds' win reinforces Trump's influence over Republican primary voters, but Florida's political shift to the right remains the bigger factor in the governor's race.

## Cory Mills becomes another Republican incumbent to fall

Republican Congressman Cory Mills lost his primary to former television news anchor Ryan Elijah, ending Mills' bid for a third term.

Mills had been facing ethics investigations and allegations of misconduct, which had made his re-election increasingly difficult.

Trump had initially backed Mills in February but did not include him in a list of endorsements on Monday.