Voters in Florida will cast ballots Tuesday in primary elections that include the race to succeed Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, whose final term concludes in January. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) enters the Republican gubernatorial primary as a front-runner, holding a lead in polling over Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins (R) and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner (R). DeSantis has not officially endorsed a candidate in the race, though he recently noted Renner's "great record of policy" while discussing the challenges of gaining name recognition in the state.
The Florida primaries also feature high-profile congressional contests involving incumbents and former members. Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is seeking a third term in the 7th District against three challengers, including former television anchor Ryan Elijah. Meanwhile, former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) is attempting to reclaim her seat in the 20th District following her April resignation. Cherfilus-McCormick resigned after federal charges alleged she used disaster relief funds for campaign purposes; she has pleaded not guilty and maintains her innocence.
In the 7th District, Mills is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee—a panel that reviews conduct by members of Congress—regarding allegations of dating violence and campaign finance violations. Mills has denied these allegations. While Trump has endorsed Mills, Florida Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos have backed Elijah. In the 20th District, Cherfilus-McCormick faces a field that includes Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who moved to run in the district after redistricting altered her previous seat.
For voters in Florida’s 7th and 20th Congressional Districts, the primaries determine whether they will be represented by incumbents facing legal or ethical scrutiny or by new challengers. The scale of the legal matters is significant; the House Ethics Committee previously found 25 counts of violations against Cherfilus-McCormick involving millions of dollars in federal funds. Voters in these districts will notice the impact through their representation in federal funding decisions and legislative priorities starting in the new congressional term in 2027.
Beyond Florida, a federal three-judge panel in California will hear a motion on Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit regarding that state’s congressional map. The redistricting plan, approved by voters via Proposition 50, could allow Democrats to pick up five additional House seats in 2026. This legal decision sets a precedent for how states may redraw boundaries in response to actions in other states. Results from Tuesday's Florida primary will be finalized shortly after polls close, while the California court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.