What to Watch in Tuesday’s Primary Elections in Alaska, Florida and Beyond
An early glimpse of a pivotal Senate race, heated primaries on a newly redrawn congressional map, and a special election to replace Eric Swalwell will be in the spotlight on Tuesday.
Florida’s August Democratic primary contests mark a stark contrast to the progressive-liberal battles that dominated recent primaries in states like New York, Minnesota, and Michigan. Analysts predict that moderate candidates, Alex Vindman and David Jolly, are well-positioned to secure their parties' Senate and gubernatorial nominations, respectively. This is largely due to Florida's shift towards a more conservative voting base.
Vindman, a retired Army Lt Col and impeachment witness against Trump, is polling ahead of state Representative Angie Nixon in the Democratic primary. He has campaigned on a platform focused on Florida-first values, such as the economy, social security stability for seniors, and fighting corruption in Washington.
Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched to the Democratic Party, faces a different challenge in the governor's race. While he is polling favorably, he has been labeled as a "radical liberal" by Byron Donalds, the likely Republican candidate for governor. Donalds and other Republican candidates are focusing on culture war issues rather than broad, progressive policy positions.
Despite the absence of progressive liberalism in Florida’s primary, dissatisfaction with incumbent President Trump and the soon-to-be-term-limited Governor DeSantis has created an opening for moderate candidates. Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida, notes that Florida's political culture has traditionally been moderate to conservative, with roughly 40% of the state identifying as moderate, 40% as conservative, and only about 20% as liberal.
Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, emphasizes the importance of a middle-ground coalition to address Florida's unique demographic makeup, which comprises more conservative voters compared to the rest of the country. In the end, Florida's primary may not see a wholesale ideological shift as it does in other states, with moderate candidates holding the key to reversing voter disappointment in the upcoming general election.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
