Rep. Gaetz wins primary election in Florida

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Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Tuesday claimed victory in the Republican primary for Florida’s First District, trouncing challenger Matt Dimmock. Gaetz netted more than 72 percent of the vote according to Associated Press numbers on WORLD’s 2024 Election Center. Dimmock, a U.S. Navy veteran backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, snagged only 27 percent of the vote, according to the unofficial results. Gaetz had led the effort to remove McCarthy from the speaker’s seat in October 2023. Gaetz and his wife, Ginger, expressed gratitude to their supporters in a statement on social media.

Elsewhere in Florida, Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Michael Waltz, Kat Cammack, and Byron Donalds also won their party’s nominations for their districts. Every incumbent Republican in the House of Representatives in the state seeking their party’s support for another term received it. Democrats in the state similarly rallied behind all their incumbent Democratic candidates for the U.S. House.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., trounced both his Republican primary challengers, sweeping up almost 85 percent of the vote. His general election opponent, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, won her primary with almost 70 percent of the vote.

What other major races took place? Voters in Alaska and Wyoming also cast their primary election ballots Tuesday night.

In Alaska’s non-partisan, top-four primary, incumbent Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola won her party’s nomination. GOP contenders Nick Begich and Nancy Dahlstrom won their party’s nomination as well. By mid-morning Wednesday, the state had not finished counting all ballots, but one more candidate was expected to join the general election ticket.
In Wyoming, Republican incumbent Rep. Harriet Hageman won her primary against challenger Steven Helling, an attorney. Her general election opponent, Democrat Kyle Cameron, ran uncontested in his party’s primary. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., won his primary. His general election opponent, Democrat Scott Morrow, also went uncontested in his party’s primary.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report in WORLD Magazine explaining a controversial Republican-backed proposal from the Heritage Foundation called Project 2025.