Primaries in 3 States Tuesday: Key Races
Cyberzenhub.com – Primaries in 3 states Tuesday will narrow the field in key Senate, House, and governors’ races across Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming. Voters in each state face distinct ballot questions shaped by redistricting, term limits, and unusually crowded candidate slates. The outcomes will determine which candidates advance to November general elections in some of the most watched contests of the cycle.
Alaska: A Crowded Nonpartisan Primary
Alaska’s nonpartisan top-four primary pits more than a dozen candidates against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, including another Republican who shares his exact name. Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola is among the challengers, and the top four finishers will advance to the November general election. Challenger Dan Sullivan, who entered the race in June, successfully sued to remain on the ballot after the state Division of Elections ruled his candidacy was meant “to confuse or mislead and to thereby compromise the ballot’s fairness or neutrality.”
“I have every right to stand up and do this. It’s my name, my grandfather’s name: Dan Sullivan. My dad’s name: Dan Sullivan.” — Challenger Dan Sullivan
In the state’s sole House seat, GOP Rep. Nick Begich III, who defeated Peltola in 2024, seeks reelection. His uncle, former state Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, runs for governor as a Democrat, giving Democrats a path to a potential Senate flip if both races go their way.
Florida: Post-Redistricting Showdown
Florida holds its first major primaries since the Republican-controlled legislature redrew congressional districts earlier this year, making several seats more GOP-friendly. Republicans hope to pick up four additional House districts, while Democratic incumbents Reps. Darren Soto, Jared Moskowitz, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Kathy Castor now face tougher maps that would have gone to Trump in 2024.
Rep. Byron Donalds is vacating his House seat to run for governor. Among the five candidates seeking his congressional district are former Reps. Madison Cawthon, who lost his western North Carolina seat in 2022, and Chris Collins, who resigned from his New York seat before pleading guilty to securities charges in 2019 and received a presidential pardon the following year. Trump has endorsed Catalina Lauf, who ran two unsuccessful House campaigns in Illinois. On the Republican side, Rep. Cory Mills faces a challenge from former TV news anchor Ryan Elijah.
Wyoming: Senate and Governor Contests
Rep. Harriet Hageman is giving up her House seat to challenge retiring Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a race in which Trump has endorsed Hageman. Nine Republicans and two Democrats are running in their respective party primaries to replace Hageman in the House. In the governor’s race, four Republicans compete to succeed term-limited Gov. Mark Gordon; the winner will face Kenneth Casner, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Alaska’s nonpartisan primary work?
All candidates, regardless of party, compete on a single ballot. The top four finishers advance to the November general election, meaning a Democrat can advance even in a heavily Republican-leaning state.
Why is Florida’s primary considered a post-redistricting test?
The state legislature redrew congressional maps earlier in the cycle, shifting several districts toward Republican advantage. Tuesday’s vote is the first time voters will cast ballots under the new boundaries, making results a bellwether for November.
What happens if a candidate wins a primary but the seat is being vacated?
In cases like Rep. Donalds’ move to the governor’s race or Rep. Hageman’s bid for Senate, the primary winner fills the newly opened House seat for the remainder of the term, while the Senate or gubernatorial contest proceeds separately.
