Voters in Alaska, Florida, and California headed to the polls on Tuesday to select candidates for the November general elections. These contests will determine the final matchups for seats that will decide party control of the U.S. Congress. Key races include primary challenges to established incumbents and a Republican gubernatorial primary in Florida.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola is competing in a nonpartisan primary for a U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Dan S. Sullivan. The state utilizes a ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates by preference. Sullivan faces a primary challenge from another Republican candidate also named Dan J. Sullivan, a situation that may lead to voter confusion.
Florida's primary features internal Democratic contests between moderates and progressives. In the 25th Congressional District, incumbent Representative Jared Moskowitz is facing a challenge from activist Oliver Larkin, who is endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Larkin's platform includes a $25 per hour national minimum wage and the elimination of the Electoral College. Meanwhile, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running in the 20th Congressional District following a Republican-led redistricting process that altered her previous district's boundaries.
In California, a special election to fill a vacant House seat has focused on Democratic disagreements over the war in Gaza. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has spent heavily to support Melissa Hernandez against State Senator Aisha Wahab. In Florida’s gubernatorial primary, Republican Representative Byron Donalds, who has received an endorsement from Donald Trump, is seeking the nomination to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis.
The scale of these elections involves the potential shift of four House seats in Florida alone due to redistricting, which could alter the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Alaska, the ranked-choice system affects how 733,000 residents cast their ballots, potentially favoring centrist candidates by allowing for second- and third-choice preferences. Residents in these states will notice the immediate shift from primary campaigning to general election messaging, affecting the types of political advertisements and outreach they receive through November.
The results will also serve as a measure of influence for outside groups and political figures. The spending by AIPAC in California and Florida primary races tests the impact of lobbying groups on local representation. Additionally, the Florida governor's race will indicate the weight of presidential endorsements in state-level contests. Winners of these primaries will move to the general election ballot on November 3, 2026, where final decisions on congressional control will be made.