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Democrats continued to trade blows in their factional war on Aug. 18 with a progressive firebrand prevailing in the Florida Senate primary, while two centrist House incumbents fended off more left-leaning challengers.
The primary contests stretched across the continent on Tuesday with most of the action taking place in the Sunshine State, where state Rep. Angie Nixon, an outspoken Democratic Socialist of America member, defeated Alex Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, in a stunning upset.
"We showed the world what organized people can accomplish," Nixon said during her victory speech.
At the same time, Reps. Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, two well-known Florida Democrats solidly in the establishment camp, won their respective fight to remain on Capitol Hill against progressive opponents.
Both were thrusted into freshly gerrymandered districts created by the state legislature at President Donald Trump's behest to give Republicans an advantage in the midterms this fall.
In both races, the two incumbents faced insurgents who ran under the democratic socialist banner, with campaigns that emphasized universal health care, cost of living concerns and opposition to Israel.
Florida voters also were charged with selecting contenders to succeed Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former presidential candidate who is term-limited.
Here are the key takeaways from Tuesday's election.
