Key primaries in Florida, Alaska and more set to shape fall midterms

Voters in Florida, Wyoming, California, and Alaska are heading to the polls Tuesday for primaries that will mark the end of a long and often bitter primary season. These contests are expected to shape the fiercely contested midterm elections later this year, which will determine control of Congress.

The primaries will highlight Republican-driven redistricting efforts that have significantly altered congressional maps. They will also showcase the ongoing tension between the Democratic establishment and its progressive wing. Several races feature scandal-plagued candidates, individuals with similar names competing against each other, and incumbents facing the threat of defeat.

In Florida, attention is on the race to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump-backed Republican Rep. Byron Donalds is vying to become the state's first Black governor. If he wins, he would join a historic slate of Black gubernatorial nominees nationwide. Meanwhile, redistricting has created contentious Democratic House races in Florida, including a South Florida district where veteran Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz faces a challenge from former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

Alaska's Senate primary also presents an unusual situation with two candidates named Dan Sullivan competing, alongside an ex-congresswoman. These races serve as a crucial test of former President Trump's influence on the Republican Party as the midterms approach.