Voters in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming head to the polls on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, for high-stakes primary elections, while California holds a special congressional election. The contests will determine major party nominees for governor and Congress, shaping the political landscape ahead of the November midterms.
Florida Primaries: Governor, Senate and Congressional Redistricting Battles
Florida’s primary elections stand out as some of the most fiercely contested in the country, featuring crowded fields across both major parties and a newly redrawn congressional map designed by Republicans to strengthen their standing for the November midterms, as the outlet reported. Eleven Republicans are competing to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, led by U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds—who enters the primary with the endorsement of President Donald Trump and a significant financial advantage—alongside state Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, former investment firm CEO James Fishback, and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, according to Livemint.
On the Democratic side, former U.S. Rep. David Jolly holds a major fundraising advantage in a six-candidate gubernatorial primary that also features state Rep. Dotie Joseph and math teacher Dayna Marie Foster. The Democratic nominee will face an uphill battle in a state that has leaned Republican. Meanwhile, in the race to complete the remainder of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s term in the U.S. Senate, Democrats choose between state Rep. Angie Nixon and former National Security Council aide Alex Vindman.
The state’s redrawn maps have also forced awkward incumbent matchups. A contentious primary in South Florida pits veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz against former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in a district that is almost majority Black, according to the source.
Alaska’s All-Party Senate Contest and Ranked-Choice Voting
In Alaska, voters are participating in an unusual all-party primary where the top four vote-getters advance to November regardless of party affiliation, with the general election winner decided by ranked-choice voting, as GreenwichTime noted. Sixteen candidates are vying for a competitive U.S. Senate seat expected to play a pivotal role in determining control of the Senate next year.
Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan faces a strong challenge from former Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, Livemint reported.
Wyoming Open Seats Mark Historic Turnover
Wyoming is experiencing an unprecedented level of political turnover on Tuesday. Following the retirement announcements of prominent Republican officials Gov. Mark Gordon and U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, alongside U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman’s campaign to run for the Senate seat, the state is holding open primaries for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House simultaneously for the first time in 32 years, according to reporting from Thestar.
California Special Election Decides Swalwell’s Temporary Successor
Out West, California voters are casting ballots in a special election for the 14th Congressional District to determine who will finish the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term, Iheart reported. Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid sexual assault allegations, which he denies.
The race features two Democrats advancing from the June primary: state Sen. Aisha Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit director Melissa Hernandez, according to the source. Regardless of the outcome, the seat is guaranteed to remain under Democratic control, slightly narrowing the Republican majority in the House ahead of the fall midterms, GreenwichTime observed.
