Kathmandu— Florida’s primary elections concluded on Tuesday, revealing significant developments within both the Democratic and Republican parties as they gear up for November’s crucial midterm elections. The contests, held under a newly redrawn congressional map widely believed to favor Republicans, produced notable upsets and reinforced existing political trends. Progressive candidates saw success in some key races while Donald Trump's endorsements proved influential for Republicans, setting the stage for competitive general election matchups.

Progressive Upset in Senate Primary

State lawmaker Angie Nixon secured a surprising victory over former national security official Alexander Vindman in their Democratic Senate primary race. Despite being significantly outspent – raising less than $1 million compared to Vindman’s more than $16 million – Nixon leveraged support from prominent progressive figures like Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and built a strong profile within Florida politics. This win continues a trend seen in other Democratic primaries this year, where grassroots candidates have overcome better-funded opponents.

Trump-Backed Donalds Eyes Historic Win

On the Republican side, Congressman Byron Donalds won the nomination for governor with an endorsement from President Donald Trump. If elected in November, Donalds would become Florida’s first Black governor and join a historically large field of Black gubernatorial nominees across the country, currently led by Maryland's Wes Moore. His victory underscores Trump’s continued influence over Republican primary voters, though analysts note that Florida’s broader shift to the right is also a major factor in the race.

Incumbent Losses and Controversial Rhetoric

The primaries weren’t without their upsets for incumbents; Congressman Cory Mills lost his bid for a third term following ethics investigations and allegations of misconduct, after receiving an initial endorsement from Trump but being excluded from a later list. Meanwhile, Representative Randy Fine, a staunch pro-Israel legislator known for controversial anti-Muslim rhetoric – including suggesting the destruction of all Muslims and cheering starvation in Gaza – successfully secured the Republican primary nomination for Florida’s 6th Congressional District despite facing multiple challengers.

Establishment Democrats Secure Victories

Despite the progressive gains, establishment Democrats also saw success. Longtime US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz easily won a contentious race against Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and three other Black candidates in a plurality-Black district. Cherfilus-McCormick had previously resigned amid a federal indictment and potential House ethics sanctions but sought to reclaim her seat. In another contest, union organiser Oliver Larkin was defeated by incumbent Democrat Congressman Jared Moskowitz in a newly Republican-friendly district.

The results of Florida’s primaries set the stage for competitive general elections in November, with key races poised to reflect the state's evolving political landscape and national trends.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.