Next week’s primary elections in Florida will prove pivotal as the state decides its political future. Voters are tasked with selecting nominees to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is stepping down due to term limits. Additionally, the ballot includes a close watch on a tarnished congressman’s bid for re-election and a rising socialist challenger aiming to dethrone a centrist Democratic incumbent.
The August 18 contests mark a significant shift, being the first following the adoption of Florida’s newly redrawn congressional maps. Political experts predict these will likely boost Republican chances in four key House districts as the crucial November midterm elections approach.
Here are the key races garnering attention:
Four districts where redistricting boosted Republicans
- Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, held by Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), who has opted to run in the 23rd District Democratic primary. Trump has not endorsed in the GOP race. The leading GOP candidates include university administrator Belinda Keiser, businessman Casey Askar and entrepreneur Michael Carbonara.
- Florida’s 25th Congressional District, held by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who has opted to run in the vacant 20th District Democratic primary. Trump has not endorsed a Republican. Businessman Dan Franzese, former state Rep. George Moraitis, and former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer are the top contenders for their party’s nomination.
Incumbent Dem faces Hasan Piker-backed DSA challenger
The Democratic primary in the newly drawn 25th Congressional District will see centrist Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) face off against insurgent socialist candidate Oliver Larkin.
Larkin, 33, proudly touts endorsements from far-left streamer Hasan Piker and controversial kids YouTuber Ms. Rachel on his campaign website, along with his active membership with the Broward County Democratic Socialists of America.
A former organizer with the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, Larkin has expressed support for abolishing the Senate and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza and many other far-left policy positions.
Moskowitz, who has served in the House since 2023, is a staunch supporter of Israel and is backed by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
The incumbent is polling ahead of Larkin, and has the fundraising advantage, heading into primary night.
Longtime Democratic rep faces primary challenge from indicted former congresswoman and rapper
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the former chair of the Democratic National Committee and a member of Congress since 2005, is running in the black-majority 20th Congressional District this year and facing a slew of challengers.
Among them is former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), who resigned from the House earlier this year after federal prosecutors indicted her on 15 counts related to her alleged use of $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds on her political campaigns and luxury goods, including a 3.14-carat yellow diamond ring.
Cherfilus-McCormick is slated to go to trial in February and faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Wasserman Schultz is also facing a challenge from Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, the rapper behind the 1980s hip hop group 2 Live Crew.
Polling is all over the place in the 20th District race, with some surveys showing Campbell with a 24 point lead and others putting Wasserman Schultz ahead by 18 points.
Trump-backed Republican fights to hold on amid scandals
Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is fighting to hold onto his 7th Congressional District seat amid allegations of domestic assault and “stolen valor” and reports he is under investigation by the Justice Department.
Mills, who is currently being probed by the House Ethics Committee over “serious and complex” accusations, is being challenged by several Republicans, including former Orlando news anchor Ryan Elijah.
Elijah has racked up dozens of endorsements in recent weeks, including from Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.).
Mills, who vehemently denies any wrongdoing, has been endorsed by Trump three times and received a warm reception at a recent GOP debate in the district.
Polls predict landslide win for Byron Donalds in race to replace DeSantis
Eleven GOP candidates, including Rep. Byron Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins , former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and businessman James Fishback, are vying for the Sunshine State’s GOP nomination in the governor’s race.
Donalds, a member of Congress since 2021, leads the field by 34 percentage points, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls.
Donalds, who has Trump’s endorsement, has raised more than $100 million for his campaign and committees backing his bid.
If elected in November, he would become Florida’s first black governor.
On the Democratic side, former Republican Rep. David Jolly is the favorite to make it out of the primary.
Jolly served a term-and-a-half in the House between 2014 and 2017 before becoming a cable news pundit.
In 2018, Jolly left the Republican Party to become an independent. In 2022, he joined Andrew Yang’s Forward Party. Finally, in 2025 he registered as a Democrat to run for governor in the Sunshine State.
Florida’s last Democratic candidate for governor, Charlie Crist, who lost in a landslide to DeSantis, was also a former Republican.
DeSantis has not made an endorsement in the race.