Who won and lost in Florida primaries: Key takeaways

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.

The results produced a major upset within the Democratic Party, as progressive state lawmaker Angie Nixon defeated the much better-funded former national security official Alexander Vindman in their Senate primary race.

Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Byron Donalds won the nomination for governor with President Donald Trump’s backing, putting him on course to potentially become Florida’s first Black governor.

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.

Her victory continues a pattern seen in other Democratic primaries this year, where progressive candidates have defeated more established and heavily funded opponents.

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.