Florida voters are heading to the polls Tuesday for a primary election that could provide an early indication of the political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
The contests include major races for governor, the U.S. Senate and several congressional seats, putting some of the country’s most closely watched political battles directly in front of Florida voters.
One of the biggest races is the Republican primary for governor, where Rep. Byron Donalds is seeking the nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Donalds enters the race with a major advantage: the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
The congressman has also built a substantial financial advantage over his Republican opponents, including Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and businessman James Fishback.
The race has therefore become about more than simply choosing Florida’s next Republican gubernatorial nominee.
It is also being closely watched as a measure of Trump’s continuing influence over Republican voters in one of the country’s most reliably conservative states.
Donalds previously supported Trump over DeSantis during the 2024 Republican presidential primary and was considered as a possible Trump running mate.
Florida’s Republican primary also comes at an important moment for the state’s political future.
DeSantis is prohibited from seeking a third consecutive term, meaning the winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary will be competing to succeed a governor who has dominated Florida politics for years.
Democrats are also choosing their candidates for November.
Former Republican congressman David Jolly is among the leading contenders for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, while several other Democrats are competing for the chance to challenge Republicans in November.
The U.S. Senate race is another major contest on the ballot.
Republican Sen. Ashley Moody is seeking the GOP nomination after being appointed to fill the Senate seat previously held by Marco Rubio, who left the chamber after joining Trump’s administration as secretary of state.
Democrats are choosing between candidates including state Rep. Angie Nixon and former Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
The winner will face the Republican nominee in November in the special election to complete Rubio’s remaining Senate term.
Florida’s congressional races are also attracting significant attention because of a newly redrawn congressional map.
The new districts could strengthen Republican prospects in several areas while forcing some Democratic incumbents into difficult new races.
That means Tuesday’s results could have consequences extending far beyond Florida.
Republicans are seeking to maintain their advantage in the state, while Democrats are looking for openings that could give them momentum heading toward November.
For Trump, however, the governor’s race carries a particularly important political dimension.
A victory for Donalds would reinforce the president’s ability to shape Republican nominations in one of the nation’s largest and most politically important states.
A weaker-than-expected showing, meanwhile, could give Trump’s critics new ammunition as both parties prepare for the midterm battle.
Florida voters will begin producing answers Tuesday evening, with polls closing at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern depending on the county.
And as the results begin coming in, political observers will be watching one question especially closely:
Just how powerful is Trump’s endorsement when Republican voters make the final decision?
