Voters in Alaska, Florida, and California are participating in primary and special elections this Tuesday to select candidates for the upcoming November midterm elections. These contests will determine the nominees for various House and Senate seats, as well as the Florida governorship. The results are expected to provide data on party strength as Democrats and Republicans compete for control of both chambers of Congress.
In Alaska, a nonpartisan primary features incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola on the same ballot. The state utilizes a ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates by preference. In Florida, the election follows a recent redistricting process that modified the state's congressional map, a move analysts suggest could result in a net gain of up to four seats for Republicans in the House.
Multiple intraparty contests are also underway. In Florida's 25th Congressional District, incumbent Representative Jared Moskowitz is facing a challenge from Oliver Larkin, who is endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Meanwhile, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running in the 20th Congressional District after her previous district was redrawn. In California, a special House election is centered on a contest between State Senator Aisha Wahab and Melissa Hernandez, with significant spending from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
In Alaska, the use of a nonpartisan, ranked-choice primary affects all registered voters in the state, potentially changing how third-party and independent candidates compete for the state's single Senate seat. A shift in this seat would represent 1% of the U.S. Senate, where Democrats currently seek a four-seat pickup to secure a majority. Voters in these districts will notice changes in their local representation and the policy priorities of their representatives starting in January when the new Congress is seated, impacting federal legislation on labor laws, healthcare benefits, and foreign policy spending.
The results will also serve as a precedent for the influence of outside interest groups and internal party factions. The involvement of AIPAC in California and Florida contests illustrates the scale of private spending in primary races, while the Florida gubernatorial primary tests the impact of endorsements from former President Donald Trump and the legacy of Governor Ron DeSantis. Following Tuesday’s results, winning candidates will move to the general election scheduled for November, which will ultimately decide the partisan balance of the federal government.
In the Florida gubernatorial race, Republican Representative Byron Donalds, who has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, is seeking to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis. On the Democratic side, former Representative David Jolly is among those seeking the nomination. The general election in November will determine the successor to DeSantis, who is term-limited.