Florida Primary Results: Nixon Upsets Vindman; Donalds Wins GOP Nod on August 19

Florida voters delivered a stunning upset on Tuesday when progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary. Nixon raised less than $1 million while Vindman outraised her by more than 16-to-1. On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won the GOP gubernatorial nomination with 48% of the vote, backed by President Trump. Nixon becomes the first Black woman to win a major party Senate nomination in Florida.

Nixon’s stunning upset over Vindman

Angie Nixon, a state lawmaker and former labor activist, defeated Alex Vindman in a race that defied fundraising expectations. Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and former National Security Council official who testified against Trump in his 2019 impeachment trial, had raised more than $16 million. Nixon brought in less than $1 million. Despite the funding gap, Nixon won decisively and was backed by prominent progressives including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. She becomes the first Black woman to win a major party nomination for U.S. Senate in Florida history.

What Nixon faces in November

Nixon will face incumbent Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in the November 3 general election to fill the final two years of Marco Rubio’s Senate term. Moody was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January 2025 after Rubio stepped down. If Nixon wins in November, she would become the first Black lawmaker and second woman ever elected to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate. The race is expected to be highly competitive in a state that has favored Republicans in recent statewide elections.

Donalds wins GOP governor race with Trump endorsement

Byron Donalds won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with 48% of the vote, far ahead of second-place finisher James Fishback, who garnered 10%. Donalds, a rising star in the Republican Party, had Trump’s endorsement and an overwhelming financial advantage. He backed Trump over Ron DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primaries. If elected in November, Donalds would become Florida’s first Black governor. He will face Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican U.S. representative who switched parties in 2025.

Democrats face uphill battle in redrawn districts

The 2026 primaries were the first held under Florida’s newly redrawn congressional map, which observers say was designed to favor Republicans. The new map could leave Democrats with a minuscule number of Florida’s 28 U.S. House seats. In one bright spot for Democrats, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz won his party’s nomination for reelection in a new Republican-friendly district, defeating union organizer Oliver Larkin. The redistricting reflects broader Republican strength in the state, where Democrats have not won the governorship in more than 30 years.

Final Thoughts

Nixon’s upset victory signals continued momentum for progressive candidates against better-funded establishment rivals. Donalds’ nomination sets up a historic general election race in a state that has consistently favored Republicans in statewide contests.

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