President Donald Trump's endorsement of embattled Republican Rep. Cory Mills was not enough to save him from losing his reelection bid in Florida on Tuesday, suggesting that even with Trump's support, candidates carrying too much baggage may still face limits. Mills lost to challenger Ryan Elijah despite retaining Trump's endorsement, and is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice. In another Florida primary race, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds secured his party's nomination with Trump's backing and now faces the task of uniting his party after a bruising primary. Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won her primary in a historically Black congressional district that was redrawn this year by Republicans, vowing to prioritize increasing representation in the district.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Florida Primary Results
- Angie Nixon projected winner in Florida Democratic Senate primary
+ NBC News projects that Angie Nixon will win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Florida.
- Jolly thanks supporters after projected win in Florida Democratic gubernatorial primary
+ Charlie Crist is projected to win the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida.
- Rep. Donalds celebrates projected win in Florida GOP governor primary
+ Rep. Matt Gaetz's ally, Rep. Byron Donalds, is projected to win the Republican nomination for Governor of Florida.
Takeaways from Tuesday Primaries
- Trump endorsement can't lift Mills
+ Embattled and scandal-ridden Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost his reelection bid in Florida Tuesday.
- GOP Rep. Cory Mills loses his Florida primary amid investigations
+ NBC News projects that Ryan Elijah, a former TV news anchor and NFL sideline reporter, will win the Republican nomination for Congress in Florida's 7th District.
Socialist Movement Gains Ground
- Socialists capture major Florida victory on hit-or-miss night for Trump-endorsed primary candidates
+ A socialist, Angie Nixon, is projected to win the Democratic Senate primary in Florida.
- Sunshine State socialist scores shocking Senate upset despite being heavily outspent
+ Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon scored a massive upset in the state's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
Other Primary Results
- GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan, Democrat Mary Peltola advance to Alaska Senate race
+ Senator Dan Sullivan is projected to win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Alaska.
- Wasserman Schultz wins Florida’s 20th District Democratic primary, NBC News projects
+ Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is projected to win the Democratic nomination for Congress in Florida's 20th District.
Investigations and Controversies
- Mills faces a House Ethics Committee investigation; a judge issued a restraining order against him last year after he was accused by his former girlfriend of threatening to distribute sexually explicit videos of her.
- The loss makes him the latest member of a relatively rare set of Republican candidates who lost GOP primaries even with Trump’s blessing.
Written for “Florida Primary Election Results” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 19 other(s) covering the same event.
Takeaways from Tuesday primaries: Trump endorsement only goes so far
asserted
endorsement → go → primaries
After bruising primaries, candidates from both sides try to unite their parties.
asserted
candidates → bruise → parties
Several high-profile primary races Tuesday tested how much President Donald Trump's endorsement can do for a scandal-marred candidate, showed the impact of Republicans' mid-decade redistricting and highlighted the continued battle between established Democratic candidates and progressive challengers.
Here are takeaways from Tuesday's primaries:
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takeaways → test → primaries
Trump endorsement can't lift Mills
asserted
endorsement → lift → Mills
Embattled and scandal-ridden Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost his reelection bid in Florida Tuesday, defeated by challenger Ryan Elijah, a former TV news anchor and NFL sideline reporter.
asserted
Mills → embattle → Elijah
Mills faces a House Ethics Committee investigation; a judge issued a restraining order against him last year after he was accused by his former girlfriend of threatening to distribute sexually explicit videos of her; and in July, ABC News reported that the embattled congressman was also under investigation by the Department of Justice, in part about his finances.
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congressman → face → finances
Mills has denied the allegations.
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Mills → deny → allegations
Mills' loss suggests that Republicans have limits when it comes to how long they can stand behind a candidate carrying too much baggage.
uncertain
they → suggest → baggage
Despite the scandals that have followed him, Mills still retained Trump's endorsement.
asserted
Mills → follow → endorsement
Putting aside differences before November
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds unsurprisingly secured his party's nomination in the gubernatorial race in Florida.
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Donalds → put → Florida
Donalds' campaign has received immense support among Republicans and Trump's endorsement.
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campaign → receive → Republicans
Donalds now faces the task of uniting his party after what was a bruising primary.
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what → face → party
Donalds said he received congratulatory calls from his competitors, Paul Renner and James Fishback.
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he → say → competitors
In his victory speech, Donalds called for Florida Republicans to come together.
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Republicans → call → speech
Tonight we put aside our differences.
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we → put → differences
Tonight we are one united Republican Party," Donalds said.
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Donalds → say → ?
Wasserman Schultz promises representation matters
Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won her primary in Florida's historically Black 20th Congressional District that was redrawn this year by the Republican-controlled legislature.
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that → promise → legislature
Her decision to run in the district drew criticism from her four Black opponents and other Black Democrats who have already been impacted by Republican redistricting efforts in southern states.
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who → run → states
In her victory speech, Wasserman Schultz referenced redistricting Republicans hope will improve their chances of retaining the House in November.
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Republicans → reference → November
She promised the redrawn majority-minority district that increasing representation is among her top priorities.
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increasing → promise → priorities
There is so much at stake in this moment, and I want people to know that representation matters.
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representation → be → moment
It matters, and I will fight to make sure that representation counts again,” she said Tuesday evening.
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she → matter → ?
Moskowitz fends off challenge from DSA candidate
In the Democratic primary for Florida's 25th District, two-term incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who was also running in a redrawn district, fended off a challenge from Democratic Socialists of America candidate Oliver Larkin.
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who → fend → Larkin
The race highlighted how support for Israel is becoming prominent issue in this year's election as more Democrats have become less supportive.
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Democrats → highlight → election
Moskowitz has been a staunch supporter of Israel while Larkin has called for the U.S. to cut off aid.
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U.S. → call → aid
The race was a continuation of established Democratic candidates facing challenges from progressives, as seen in the Senate race in Michigan.
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race → face → Michigan
Moskowitz now faces a competitive general election in November, as his seat is one Republicans see as a top pickup opportunity.
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Republicans → face → opportunity
