Alaska, Florida and Wyoming hold primaries: Key races to watch

Key primary races will kick off in Alaska, Florida and Wyoming next week as the 2024 primary cycle wraps up.

In Florida, a noteworthy Senate race is about to be solidified. Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) battles a challenger backed by his political nemesis, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R), while Democrats duke it out in the state’s 13th Congressional District to challenge Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R) in the fall.

On the other side of the country, Alaska is holding its nonpartisan primary for its at-large congressional district, which is currently held by Rep. Mary Peltola (D). Tuesday’s contest will narrow down the list of candidates running to four.

Wyoming will also hold primaries on Tuesday, with the state’s two Sens. John Barrasso (R) and Harriett Hageman (R) facing challengers. However, neither senator faces serious threats in their primaries.

Here are key races to watch in Tuesday’s primaries:

Florida Senate Primaries

Before Mucarsel-Powell can take on Scott in the general election, she must first face three Democratic opponents, including information technology entrepreneur Stanley Campbell. The businessman has received notable endorsements from the AFL-CIO and the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida. Additionally, Campbell has poured $1 million of his own money into the race.

Still, Mucarsel-Powell is considered the hands-down favorite to win the primary, raising nearly $5 million in the second quarter of the year. She has also gained influential Democratic endorsements, most recently from Democratic kingmaker Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.).

The race to unseat Scott will be a difficult one. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as “likely Republican.”

Scott has served as the state’s senator since 2019 and before that was governor going back to 2011. The incumbent senator also has deep pockets, putting $13.7 million of his own money into the race. A Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research USA poll released last week showed Scott leading Mucarsel-Powell 47 percent to 43 percent among likely voters.

Gaetz primary

The battle between McCarthy and his Republican colleagues who ousted him from his post is continuing in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Gaetz, a conservative firebrand and one of former President Trump’s most vocal allies on Capitol Hill, is facing off against McCarthy-backed GOP challenger Aaron Dimmock.

The former naval officer filed to run against Gaetz in the primary last April. Since then, Gaetz and Dimmock have lobbed a number of attack ads at each other, but polling shows the incumbent with a commanding lead.

Gatez has represented the district since 2017 and has not faced a serious primary challenger.

Dems vie to take on Luna

Five Democrats are vying to take on incumbent Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) in the general election, but they must first face each other in Florida’s 13th Congressional District primary.

Democrat Whitney Fox has emerged as the frontrunner in the primary, winning endorsements from the Blue Dog PAC, Planned Parenthood and Florida Democratic Reps. Lois Frankel, Kathy Castor and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Additionally, Fox has outraised her primary opponents. In the second quarter of the year, she raised over $300,000.

Whoever emerges from the Democratic primary will face as formidable challenge against Luna. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as “likely Republican.”

Peltola looks to hold onto seat in Alaska

Twelve candidates, including two Democrats and four Republicans, are running in Alaska’s nonpartisan primary election for the state’s at-large House seat. Other candidates are running as nonpartisans, or with the No Labels and Alaska Indepdence Party.

Incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) currently holds the seat.

As a part of the state’s ranked-choice voting process, the top four candidates who earn the most votes will advance to the general election regardless of their party affiliation. Peltola competed in the same voting process in 2022 during a special election.

The Cook Political Report rates the race as “lean Democratic.”

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