Florida Primary Puts House Races, Governor’s Contest in Play

Florida’s primary election is set to put the state’s new political map to the test, with voters choosing nominees in crowded races for governor and Congress on Aug. 18. The Florida primary election comes as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of several key seats, including districts touched by new congressional boundaries that experts say could give Republicans an advantage in four House seats heading into the November midterms.

The most closely watched Democratic primary in the newly drawn 25th Congressional District pits Rep. Jared Moskowitz against Oliver Larkin, a 33-year-old insurgent socialist who has leaned into support from figures on the party’s left flank. Larkin’s campaign website touts endorsements from streamer Hasan Piker and children’s YouTuber Ms. Rachel, and says he is an active member of the Broward County Democratic Socialists of America. He has also backed positions that include abolishing the Senate and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Moskowitz, who has served in the House since 2023, is backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, supports Israel, and is ahead in polling with a fundraising edge.

Another contested Democratic race is unfolding in the black-majority 20th Congressional District, where Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is seeking to hold her seat against a crowded field. Among her challengers is former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned from the House earlier this year after federal prosecutors indicted her on 15 counts tied to the alleged use of $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds for political campaigns and luxury purchases, including a 3.14-carat yellow diamond ring. Cherfilus-McCormick is scheduled for trial in February and faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Wasserman Schultz is also facing Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, the rapper known for 2 Live Crew, and polls in the district have pointed in very different directions.

On the Republican side, Rep. Cory Mills is trying to keep his 7th Congressional District seat while facing allegations of domestic assault and “stolen valor,” along with reports of a Justice Department inquiry. Mills is also under House Ethics Committee scrutiny over what it has described as “serious and complex” accusations. He has denied wrongdoing and still has support from President Trump, who has endorsed him three times, even as several Republicans challenge him for the nomination, including former Orlando news anchor Ryan Elijah. Elijah has picked up endorsements from Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos in recent weeks.