State Representative Angie Nixon, a progressive firebrand who ran such an underdog campaign that she could not afford a single television ad, won the Democratic Senate nomination in Florida on Tuesday in a shocking upset.
With her defeat of Alex Vindman, a candidate with establishment backing who raised more than 16 times as much campaign money, Ms. Nixon, a democratic socialist, continued the left’s winning streak this year in Democratic primaries.
Florida had appeared impervious to the prevailing political winds in recent election cycles, with Republicans doing exceptionally well in the state in 2022, in what was otherwise a strong year for Democrats. Ms. Nixon’s breakthrough victory, and losses by Republicans endorsed by President Trump in several Florida congressional primaries, suggested that maybe Florida is no longer quite as immune to national trends.
Here are six takeaways from Tuesday night’s primaries in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming, and a special election in California:
(Almost) no money? No problem. The grass roots propelled the left to victory, again.
Money is usually key to political campaigns in Florida, the nation’s third-largest state and home to 10 television markets. Ms. Nixon raised only $975,000, compared to Mr. Vindman’s more than $16.3 million. And she spent just $60,000 on advertising, according to AdImpact, a media tracking firm, compared to his $2.2 million.
Mr. Vindman will face questions about why his campaign did not spend more introducing him to voters. But credit Ms. Nixon, a union organizer, for knowing how to harness the enthusiasm of grass-roots Democrats and volunteers — and deftly using social media — to inform them about her candidacy.
A final weekend push in South Florida, home to many Democratic voters even as much of the region has trended toward Republicans, appears to have paid off: Ms. Nixon, who is from Jacksonville, defeated Mr. Vindman in Miami-Dade County, the state’s most populous, and in neighboring Broward County, where he lives.
After a long hiatus, Democratic enthusiasm is back. Will it be enough for Ms. Nixon?
Some of the most exciting elections for Florida Democrats over the past 20 years featured Black progressives named Barack Obama and Andrew Gillum. Ms. Nixon will surely try to capitalize on the excitement that propelled her big win.
But neither Mr. Obama nor Mr. Gillum entered the general election with so little name recognition, campaign organization or money, all of which are needed to reach Florida’s giant and varied electorate.
Also: How will the democratic socialist label play? Ms. Nixon joined the Democratic Socialists of America in June, though the D.S.A. has not endorsed her candidacy. And Florida has gotten redder since Mr. Obama won the state in the 2008 and 2012 presidential races and Mr. Gillum narrowly lost the 2018 governor’s race. Senator Ashley Moody, the Republican incumbent who faced no serious primary opposition on Tuesday, is sitting on more than $8 million in campaign funds.
Florida could elect its first Black governor. He’s a Republican.
Representative Byron Donalds, who has long had Mr. Trump’s endorsement in the president’s adopted home state, crushed his rivals in the Republican primary for Florida governor. He has far out-raised the Democratic nominee, former Representative David Jolly, a former Republican.
But Mr. Donalds did not break 50 percent on Tuesday, as some Florida Republicans had hoped. And he did not win some largely white, rural counties in North Florida. Mr. Donalds is Black. Some Republicans will be looking at his underperformance in those counties with concerns about whether some white Republicans will be unwilling to vote for a Black nominee, choosing to stay home in November instead.
Mr. Donalds dismissed concerns that he had not won a majority of the vote, telling reporters he would earn that support.
“They want the same thing we all want,” he said of Republicans who voted for his rivals. “We want a Florida that is based on common sense, law and order, freedom.”
Yet another scandal-plagued House Republican loses a primary.
Representative Cory Mills lost the Republican primary in Florida’s Seventh Congressional District to Ryan Elijah, a former local television news anchor, after Mr. Mills lost key support within his own party. Two House colleagues endorsed Mr. Elijah, saying they could not risk losing the Republican-leaning seat with a weak candidate.
Mr. Mills faced a House Ethics Committee investigation related to allegations of assault and threatening behavior toward women. His ouster followed that of Representative Chuck Edwards of North Carolina, who was accused of sexually harassing two female former staffers and announced on Aug. 5 that he would not seek re-election. The next day, Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee lost a primary after drawing criticism for anti-Muslim remarks.
It wasn’t a progressive sweep. See Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, and Moskowitz, Jared.
Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz, both moderate, pro-Israel Democrats, easily fended off rivals after Republican gerrymandering led them to compete in new districts. Ms. Wasserman Schultz, an 11-term incumbent, overcame frustration from Black Democrats who did not want her to represent a historically Black district. Mr. Moskowitz bested a democratic socialist.
No, we don’t yet know what happened in Alaska.
Most of the state is four hours behind the East Coast. Patience is a virtue.
Shane Goldmacher, David Ovalle and Theodore Schleifer contributed reporting.
