Historic primary election victories in Florida and Arizona

The political establishment in both parties had a bad night in Florida’s high-profile race for governor. Despite Trump’s support, DeSantis was not the strongest general election candidate in the race, operatives in both parties suggest.

DeSantis made his comments in a Wednesday morning interview on Fox News, the cable channel preferred by Republicans. “DeSantis can do the bidding of big business and big lobbyists and Donald Trump and his divisive rhetoric”. DeSantis trounced Putnam 57-36 percent.

Florida’s three incumbent Jewish Democrats in the House will continue to November elections: Lois Frankel in the 21st District, Ted Deutch in the 22nd and Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the 23rd – all districts in the state’s southeast.

Gillum came from behind in a crowded and diverse Democratic field. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and other progressives across the country despite the shadow cast over his administration by a federal investigation. In this contest, at least, it was not the Year of the Democratic Woman but the insurgent-progressive uprising that won the battle of the memes. Scott had an easy win in Tuesday’s Republican Party primary, and now he heads into an increasingly bitter – and expensive – showdown with Nelson that could play a decisive role in which party controls the Senate.

A significant number of Republicans backed former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and fellow immigration hard-liner Kelli Ward. But spending almost $30 million against DeSantis seemed not enough to blunt his rise with the power of Trump. But, as it has time and again in Republican primaries this year, that tactic fell short. Having been blessed with great success, there is nothing more important for me than investing time and resources in addressing the problems of Florida’s most vulnerable.

As the primary neared, progressive groups – Indivisible Action, The Collective PAC, The New Florida Vision PAC and the Sanders-inspired Our Revolution among them – banded together to invest an additional $3.5 million in get-out-the-vote efforts supporting the Tallahassee mayor. Four others in Florida also won Tuesday.

Of course, it doesn’t mean Republicans are guaranteed big wins in Florida this fall.

The Florida gubernatorial race is now pitting Bernie-style progressivism against Trump-era Republicanism on the ballot November 6. “He wants to make Florida Venezuela”, DeSantis said, adding that Gillum’s tenure as mayor has been “absolutely disastrous”.

Florida will also be home to one of the top Senate contests this cycle.

Martha McSally fended off a pair of conservative challengers to carry the Republican Senate primary to fill the seat vacated by retiring Sen.

Republicans know Scott can and will dump millions more of his own personal wealth into his campaign.

In November, Gillum-who is vying to become Florida’s first black governor-will face off against Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), a “Trump acolyte” who has enthusiastically embraced the president’s xenophobic agenda and pro-corporate economic policies.

Only two black candidates (Douglas Wilder in Virginia, and Deval Patrick in Massachusetts) have been elected Governor in American history. “But he also combines a far-left ideology with managerial incompetence”.

Gillum campaigned on a platform of Medicare for all and $1 billion dollars of tax money pledged to improve schools.