WASHINGTON — Primary elections across Alaska and Florida on Aug. 18 will determine the candidate fields for the 2026 midterm elections, with implications for party control in Washington.
Alaska will hold all-party primaries for governor, Senate and its single House seat. Polls open at 11 a.m. ET. The gubernatorial field includes Democrats Tom Begich and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, and Republicans Click Bishop, Dave Bronson and Adam Crum.
In the Senate race, incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan faces primary challengers Dustin Darden and Fred Grauberger. Democrats Carol Hafner and Mary Peltola are also on the ballot.
Alaska's sole congressional seat sees Republican Rep. Nick Begich opposed by Eddie Goldfarb and Clay Strickland. Democrats Eric Hafner and Yaquelin Reynoso are among those seeking their party's nomination.
Florida voters will choose nominees for several House districts, with polls opening at 7 a.m. ET — four hours earlier than in Alaska.
In Florida's 1st District, incumbent Republican Rep. Jimmy Patronis faces primary challengers Douglas Chico and John Frankman. Democrat Gay Valimont runs unopposed on her side.
The Republican primary in Florida's 2nd District features Keith Gross, Lee Jones and Evan Power. The Democratic field includes Yen Bailey, Brice Barnes and Amanda Green.
Republican Rep. Kat Cammack in the 3rd District and Republican Rep. Aaron Bean in the 4th District each run unopposed in their primaries.
In the 5th District, Republican Rep. John Rutherford draws a primary challenge from Mark Kaye. The Democratic primary for the 6th District includes Robert Coo Steve Morgan and Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera.
Sullivan and Patronis must first survive their own party's voters before reaching November. Cammack and Bean — while some incumbents face their primaries without opposition — arrive at the general election without that test.
