Florida Primary Results: Donalds, Jolly Advance to Governor Race
Election night updates reveal key winners including Ryan Elijah defeating Cory Mills and Angie Gallo winning School Board chair.
Florida voters cast ballots on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, determining the nominees for several high-profile state and federal offices. The primary election results have set the stage for a competitive fall campaign season, with key races in Tallahassee and Washington defined by significant upsets and established party nominations.
Gubernatorial Race Set
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has secured the Republican nomination for Florida governor, setting up a general election contest against former Rep. David Jolly, who won the Democratic nod. The race will determine who replaces outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds stated his intention to become Florida’s first Black governor.
U.S. House and Senate Upsets
In a major development for Florida's 7th Congressional District, former Fox 35 news anchor Ryan Elijah defeated incumbent Cory Mills in the Republican primary. Mills faced allegations of domestic violence involving a former girlfriend, which he denies, and saw support from Gov. Ron DeSantis wane ahead of the vote.
For the U.S. Senate seat, Angie Nixon won the Democratic primary against Alex Vindman. Nixon, a progressive candidate from Jacksonville known for her arrest during a protest at the governor’s office regarding redistricting maps, defeated Vindman 55% to 45%. She will face Republican incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody in November, a story we covered in Donalds and Jolly Advance to Florida Gubernatorial General Election.
Orange County Local Races
In Orange County, Angie Gallo was elected chair of the School Board, defeating Alicia Farrant by a margin of 59% to 41%. Gallo, an incumbent District 1 member endorsed by local Democrats and teachers' unions, will lead one of the state's largest school districts.
Other notable outcomes include Roberta Walton Johnson winning the Democratic primary for Orange County Clerk of Court against Rick Singh. Additionally, four Orange County Commission races were sent to runoffs in November after no candidate secured a majority. In State House District 47, Democrat Anthony Nieves was elected following Republican incumbent Paula Stark's failure to qualify due to paperwork issues.
