Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Florida Left-Wing Upset and Alaska Democrat Boost Primaries
Voters in Florida and Alaska held primary elections on Tuesday.
In Florida, Angie Nixon, a progressive Democrat, defeated Alex Vindman, who had raised much more money.
This may make it harder for Democrats to win Florida’s Senate seat in November.
Florida continued to look strongly Republican in the statewide races.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola received more votes than Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan in the first round.
They are expected to face each other in November, although another candidate with a similar name could also advance.
Many Floridians voted by mail even though Donald Trump often criticizes mail voting.
Trump’s preferred candidates had both victories and defeats.
Democratic socialist Angie Nixon defeated heavily funded centrist Alex Vindman in Florida’s Senate primary.
Nixon’s victory likely makes a Democratic Senate pickup in Republican-dominated Florida more difficult.
Centrist Democrat Mary Peltola led Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan in Alaska’s nonpartisan Senate primary.
Florida Republicans dominated statewide voting and could gain four House seats under the new congressional map.
Donald Trump had mixed endorsement results, while Florida voters cast more than 1.15 million mail ballots.
- Who
- Florida and Alaska primary voters; Democratic candidates Angie Nixon, Alex Vindman and Mary Peltola; Republican candidates including Dan S. Sullivan and Donald Trump-backed contenders.
- What
- Primary elections produced a progressive Democratic upset in Florida, a strong showing by a centrist Democrat in Alaska, continued Republican strength in Florida and mixed results for Trump-endorsed candidates.
- When
- Tuesday, Aug. 19; the leading candidates will compete in November general elections.
- Where
- Florida and Alaska, with the report datelined Washington.
- Why
- The results will shape November contests for control of Congress and show differing trends within the Democratic and Republican parties.
Progressive Democrats
Centrist Democrats and Republicans
Democratic candidate strategy
Progressive Democrats
Progressive candidates such as Angie Nixon argue that Democratic voters are frustrated with party leaders they view as too old and ineffective in opposing President Donald Trump.
Centrist Democrats and Republicans
Centrists and analysts argue that candidates such as Alex Vindman may appeal more effectively to moderate voters, especially in a state with 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats.
Florida’s political direction
Progressive Democrats
Nixon’s upset was presented as part of a broader progressive insurgency within the Democratic Party, though other Florida progressives lost their primaries.
Centrist Democrats and Republicans
Republican results, statewide vote totals and the new congressional map indicated that Florida has become increasingly Republican and may deliver additional House seats to Republicans.
Mail-in voting
Progressive Democrats
Florida voters continued to use mail ballots in large numbers, including about 1.15 million voters in Tuesday’s primaries.
Centrist Democrats and Republicans
Donald Trump has questioned mail-ballot security and sought to end its use before the midterms, while the White House said exemptions would apply to people unable to vote in person, including Trump.
- Florida Senate primary
- Angie Nixon defeated Alex Vindman; Nixon raised less than $1 million, while Vindman raised more than $16 million.
- Florida Senate outlook
- Nonpartisan analysts said Vindman would likely have appealed more to centrist voters, making a Democratic victory against Republican Senator Ashley Moody more difficult after Nixon’s win.
- Alaska primary
- With 93% of precincts reporting, Mary Peltola had 48% and Dan S. Sullivan had 42.8%.
- Alaska complication
- Dan J. Sullivan was in third place with 2.4%, and his possible advancement remained unresolved.
- Florida statewide voting
- Republican candidates received roughly 1.6 million votes in the Senate and governor contests, compared with about 1.2 million for Democrats.
- Florida mail voting
- About 1.15 million voters cast ballots by mail, compared with 818,000 who voted early in person and 1.3 million who voted in person on Tuesday.
- Senate control
- Democrats need to gain four Republican-held seats to control the 100-seat Senate.