DSA Scores Major Florida Upset as Trump-Endorsed Candidates Dominate Primary Night.

Tuesday’s primary elections produced one major victory for the Democratic Socialists of America while candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump overwhelmingly won or advanced in their races.
The biggest Democratic surprise came in Florida, where DSA member Angie Nixon defeated Alex Vindman for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Nixon’s victory gives Republicans a clear ideological contrast heading into November.
Other DSA-backed candidates were less successful. Oliver Larkin lost his congressional primary to Jared Moskowitz, Brit Robinson finished third in her race, and Aaron Lewis also fell short. Richie Floyd was listed by DSA as a victory but had already been automatically reelected because he faced no opponent.
In contested races, that leaves the socialist movement with roughly one significant victory and three defeats Tuesday night.
Trump-endorsed Republicans had a much stronger night.
Across federal and statewide contests, Trump-backed candidates won or advanced in approximately 23 races while losing three. Including three Trump-endorsed Florida State Senate candidates who also won pushes the total to roughly 26 wins and three losses.
Among the prominent Trump-backed winners were Byron Donalds for Florida governor, Ashley Moody for U.S. Senate in Florida, Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate in Wyoming, Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s Senate contest and Nick Begich in Alaska’s House race.
Trump did suffer several notable defeats, including Catalina Lauf in Florida’s 19th Congressional District, Cory Mills in Florida’s 7th District and Megan Degenfelder in the Wyoming governor’s race.
The overall picture is clear: Trump’s endorsement remains extremely powerful inside Republican primaries, although it is no longer an automatic guarantee of victory.
For Republicans, however, Angie Nixon’s victory may ultimately prove more important than several individual GOP primary wins. Democrats will now carry an openly democratic-socialist candidate into a statewide Florida Senate race, giving Republicans an opportunity to make the general election a direct choice between two very different political philosophies.
Tuesday night’s scorecard: DSA — one major contested win. Trump endorsements — roughly 26 wins to three losses.