Florida Votes Tomorrow: Trump Tests His Influence as Marco Rubio’s Former Senate Seat Is Up for Grabs

The Florida primaries will determine the candidates for November, with Trump-backed Ashley Moody competing on the Republican side and Angie Nixon and Alex Vindman battling for the Democratic Senate nomination.

Florida will vote this Tuesday, August 18, in primaries that will measure President Donald Trump’s influence among Republicans and determine several races that could prove important to the balance of power in Congress in November.

• Why it matters: In addition to several competitive races for the House of Representatives, voters will choose candidates to compete for the remaining two years of the Senate term vacated by Marco Rubio.

Ashley Moody Heads Into the Florida Primaries With Trump’s Endorsement

In the Republican Senate race, Ashley Moody has one of the most significant political endorsements within the party: Trump’s.

Moody previously served as Florida attorney general and joined the Senate in January 2025 after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her to temporarily fill the seat vacated by Rubio.

Trump publicly endorsed her candidacy. Moody responded that she was “honored” by the endorsement and reaffirmed her commitment to the “America First” agenda, according to a statement from her campaign.

• The test: The result will provide another indication of how much weight the president’s endorsement carries among Republican voters in Florida.

Angie Nixon Courts Cuban Voters Against Alex Vindman

The Democratic contest presents a sharp contrast. Angie Nixon, a state representative from Jacksonville, is facing Alex Vindman, a retired lieutenant colonel who testified during Trump’s first impeachment.

Nixon took her campaign to Miami’s Little Havana on Saturday, walking along Calle Ocho as she sought to connect directly with Cuban voters, according to EFE.

There, she advocated for a return to a policy of engagement with Cuba similar to the approach pursued during Barack Obama’s presidency and called the U.S. embargo “a failure.”

Nixon, who joined the Democratic Socialists of America, also pushed back against criticism of her political positions.

• Her response: “I’m not going to allow them to keep portraying me as a communist or socialist,” she told EFE.
• The difference: Vindman enters the race with a national profile shaped by his role as a witness in Trump’s impeachment proceedings.

Congress Is Also at Stake in Several Florida Races

The Florida primaries 2026 will not determine by themselves which party controls Congress.

They will, however, determine who competes in November in districts that could prove important in the battle for the House majority.

According to The Center Square, Florida is among the states that changed their congressional maps in the middle of the decade.

The new map could favor Republicans in several districts currently represented by Democrats.

One area of focus is District 25, which the Cook Political Report considers competitive.

There, Democrat Jared Moskowitz faces a challenge from Oliver Larkin, while several Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination.

• By the numbers: The House is currently divided 217-212 in favor of Republicans, according to figures provided by The Center Square.
• Another battleground: Districts 14 and 22 also feature contests that will determine the candidates for November.

Senate Winner Will Complete Marco Rubio’s Term

The general election will take place on November 3. Whoever wins the special Senate race will complete the remaining two years of Rubio’s term, according to EFE.

Republicans currently control the Senate with 53 seats to Democrats’ 47, meaning the Florida race will be part of a broader national battle for control of Congress.

• What’s next: Polls will be open Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.
• The key: The primaries will determine the November matchups, but the general election will decide who ultimately holds the offices at stake.

Florida enters these primaries with several contests that go beyond simply choosing candidates.

Trump’s endorsement of Ashley Moody will once again test his influence among Republican voters, while Angie Nixon and Alex Vindman compete to represent Democrats in the battle for Marco Rubio’s former Senate seat.

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SOURCE: EFE / The Center Square / Ashley Moody