Voters head to the polls across Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, alongside a special congressional election in California.
A sprawling, high-stakes primary day unfolds across Florida, Wyoming, and Alaska on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with voters settling a fierce slate of state and federal nominations. Concurrently, California holds a special election in the 14th Congressional District to fill the remainder of the term vacated by former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid sexual assault allegations. Across the map, the outcomes will establish the final matchups for November midterms that could determine control of both the House and the Senate.
Byron Donalds and David Jolly Lead Florida’s Historic Gubernatorial Primaries
Florida’s primary ballot features crowded fields for both parties as candidates vie to succeed term-limited Livemint. On the Republican side, 11 candidates compete for the nomination. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds enters election day with a significant financial advantage and the backing of President Donald Trump, aiming to become the state’s first Black governor as part of a historic slate of Black gubernatorial nominees tracked nationwide. His GOP rivals include Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, who positions himself as the continuity candidate for the DeSantis political legacy, alongside former investment firm CEO James Fishback and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner.
Six Democrats are vying on the opposing side to end a more than three-decade drought in gubernatorial victories. Former Republican U.S. Representative David Jolly, who joined the Democratic Party in 2025, holds a major fundraising advantage and is running alongside former Democratic Rep. Gwen Graham as his prospective running mate, according to detailed candidate filings. The Democratic field also features state Representative Dotie Joseph and Dayna Marie Foster, a former high school math teacher backed by the state’s Democratic Progressive Caucus.
Redistricting Scrambles Florida Congressional Contests and Incumbent Power
Republican-led redistricting efforts have redrawn Florida’s congressional map, scrambling maps and generating intense intraparty clashes. The most bitter Democratic showdown pits veteran U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz against former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in a South Florida district that is almost majority Black. Cherfilus-McCormick resigned earlier in the year under the threat of House ethics sanctions but launched a bid to reclaim her seat, as reported by AP News. Wasserman Schultz, a former national party chair seeking a 12th term, stands as the lone white candidate in a primary field of four Black contenders in an area of Broward County that has consistently sent Black Democrats to Congress since 1992.
In the U.S. Senate contest, Republican incumbent Ashley Moody faces minimal primary opposition after being appointed in 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Marco Rubio when he became secretary of state. The Democratic nomination pits state Representative Angie Nixon against retired Army lieutenant colonel Alex Vindman, who gained national prominence during the first impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
Ranked-Choice Voting and the Sullivan Family Name on the Ballot in Alaska
Up north, Alaska’s primary system advances the top four candidates to the November general election regardless of party affiliation, utilizing ranked-choice voting for the final decision. In the high-profile U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan seeks a third term but faces a rigorous challenge from former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola among 16 candidates on the ballot, according to election trackers. Adding an unusual twist to the contest, another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. shares the senator’s first and last name; he filed as a Republican but will appear on the ballot without a party affiliation.
The race for Alaska’s sole U.S. House seat features Republican incumbent Nick Begich running for a second term, opposed by independent Bill Hill, a commercial fisherman and former Bristol Bay Borough School superintendent. Meanwhile, a crowded field of 17 contenders is competing to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, including former state legislators, local mayors, and former Gov. Bill Walker.
Wyoming Primaries and California Special Election Round Out Tuesday Voting
Wyoming voters also head to the polls to decide competitive primary races for governor and U.S. Senate. In California, the 14th Congressional District special election features a matchup between two Democrats who advanced from the June primary: State Sen. Aisha Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit Board President Melissa Hernandez. The district is widely projected to remain in Democratic hands, which would slightly alter the math in a narrowly divided House.
По теме
