Florida Republicans Pick Byron Donalds for Governor as Trump-Backed Candidates Suffer More 2026 Losses
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 18
Florida Republicans Pick Byron Donalds for Governor as Trump-Backed Candidates Suffer More 2026 Losses
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 18
Summary
Byron Donalds won Florida’s GOP gubernatorial primary and will face Democrat David Jolly, but the Trump ally was running below 50% despite raising more than $100 million and holding a big registration advantage.
Trump’s endorsements again proved uneven: his picks lost in Wyoming’s GOP governor primary and in Florida’s 19th District, while embattled Rep. Cory Mills also fell to former news anchor Ryan Elijah.
Angie Nixon delivered one of the night’s biggest upsets, beating Alex Vindman in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary despite being outspent by roughly $16 million to $1 million.
In Alaska, Sen. Dan Sullivan and former Rep. Mary Peltola advanced toward the ranked-choice general election, with attention on whether another Republican named Dan Sullivan also makes the November ballot.
Florida’s results underscored both the Democratic left’s continued primary strength and the state’s Republican tilt, leaving Donalds and GOP Sen. Ashley Moody favored in November.