Florida Primary 2022

CBS News projects Charlie Crist wins the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida, defeating Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in a primary.

In selecting Crist in the race for governor, Florida Democrats sided with a candidate backed by many in the party's establishment who viewed him as the safest choice, even after he lost his previous two statewide elections. The 66-year-old already served one term as a Republican governor more than a decade ago before becoming a Democrat. His moderate stances could appeal to voters in Florida's teeming suburbs as Democrats seek to reverse a losing pattern in a state that was recently seen as a perennial political battleground.

"Tonight, the people of Florida clearly sent a message: They want a governor who cares about them and solves real problems, preserves our freedom, not a bully who divides us and takes our freedom away," Crist declared, declining to use DeSantis' name. "This guy wants to be president of the United States of America and everybody knows it. However, when we defeat them on Nov. 8 that show is over. Enough."

Crist won the Democratic nomination over Nikki Fried, the state agriculture commissioner. She staked out a more progressive campaign and was particularly vocal in defending abortion and LGBTQ rights. The 44-year-old cast herself as "something new" and hoped to become Florida's first female governor. In a sign of the party's meager standing in Florida, she's currently the only Democrat holding statewide office.

The Florida contest concludes the busiest stretch of primaries this year, which featured contests in 18 states over just 22 days. In that span, Republicans from Arizona to Alaska have supported contenders who embraced Trump's lies that the 2020 election was stolen, an assertion roundly rejected by elections officials, the former president's attorney general and judges he appointed.  

"Change doesn't happen overnight. So we get up tomorrow and continue the fight that we have started," Nikki Fried said at her watch party at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale.

Crist won the Democratic nomination over Fried, the state agriculture commissioner. She staked out a more progressive campaign and was particularly vocal in defending abortion and LGBTQ rights. The 44-year-old cast herself as "something new" and hoped to become Florida's first female governor. In a sign of the party's meager standing in Florida, she's currently the only Democrat holding statewide office.

Fried said she called Crist to congratulate him on his victory and asked her supporters to come together to support the Democratic nominee.

"We are going to make Ronald DeSantis a one-term governor and a zero-term president of the United States," she said.

Indeed, the race ultimately centered on the political future of DeSantis, who emerged from a narrow victory four years ago to become one of the most prominent figures in GOP politics. His hands-off approach to the pandemic and eagerness to lean into divides over race, gender and LGBTQ rights have resonated with many Republican voters who see DeSantis as a natural heir to former President Donald Trump.

DeSantis' reelection effort is widely assumed to be a precursor to a presidential run in 2024, adding to a sense of urgency among Democrats to blunt his rise now.

The governor was in Hialeah for a joint victory party with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. 

CBS News projects Rep. Val Demings wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Florida.

Democrats hope that Demings, who defeated a little-known candidate in her Senate primary Tuesday, can unseat the state's senior U.S. senator, Republican Marco Rubio, this fall. But for now, the party's national leadership is prioritizing competitive Senate contests in other states, including neighboring Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Demings sounded an optimistic note as she reflected on her unlikely life story.

"Together, I really do believe this daughter of a maid and janitor who is not supposed to be standing here tonight — I really do believe that together we can do anything," she said.

Rubio was in Hialeah for a joint victory party with Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Lauren Book has defeated Barbara Sharief in a bitterly fought race for Florida Senate District 35.

The win came after months of ferocious sparring between the two politicians.

Both support abortion rights and some restrictions on guns. They also see affordability of housing and insurance as critical issues facing Floridians.

CBS4 was at book's campaign headquarters Tuesday night as she announced her victory.

Book shared what's next.

"I will work until I have no breath left in my body defending and protecting your right and fighting for each and everyone of you," she said.

Carlos Gimenez wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 28th Congressional District.

Gimenez will face Robert Asencio, who won the Democratic nomination.

CBS News projects incumbent Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar wins the Republican nomination for U.S. House of Representatives in FL-27.

On the Democratic side, CBS News projects State Sen. Annette Taddeo the winner over Miami Commissioner Ken Russell and gig worker Angel Montalvo.

Taddeo said she dropped out of the governor's race for a chance at this congressional seat because her daughter wanted her to be a voice in Washington. A voice standing up to interest groups such as the NRA, fighting for women's rights and advocating for issues for the South Florida community.

"And, of course, control of Congress means moving our control forward, having a woman's right to choose, having a January 6 committee to get to the bottom of things, not someone who votes against that, like our incumbent did," she said. "These are real issues that come down to the core of our democracy, this is about much more than a race or one seat, this is about our future."

Mario Diaz-Balart wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 26th Congressional District.  

Debbie Wasserman Schultz wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 25th Congressional District.

She'll face Carla Spalding, who won the Republican nomination.

Frederica Wilson wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 24th Congressional District.  

Jared Moskowitz wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 23rd Congressional District.  

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 20th Congressional District.  

Matt Gaetz wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 1st Congressional District.

Rebekah Jones, Florida's former COVID-19 data scientist, won the Democratic nomination.

The Democratic establishment has largely lined up behind Charlie Crist, a 66-year-old Democratic congressman who served as the state's Republican governor more than a decade ago. Running now as a moderate Democrat, Crist is facing 44-year-old Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who hopes to become the state's first female governor while leaning into the fight for abortion rights.

The race is ultimately a debate over who is best-positioned to defeat DeSantis, who emerged from a narrow victory four years ago to become one of the most prominent Republicans in politics. His relatively light touch handling the pandemic and his eagerness to lean into divides over race, gender and LGBTQ rights have resonated with many Republican voters who see DeSantis as a natural heir to former President Donald Trump.

His reelection effort is widely assumed to be a precursor to a presidential run in 2024, adding to a sense of urgency among Democrats to blunt his rise now.

Florida, once a swing state that has been trending more Republican in recent years, will have its chance to go to the polls on Tuesday. 

Democrats will be choosing who will challenge Republican rising star Gov. Ron DeSantis, as well as Sen. Marco Rubio. Because of its increase in population, the state is also adding congressional district.

Though they won the White House and Senate in 2020, Democrats lost two U.S. House seats in south Florida. President Biden lost the state by just under 4 points (371,686 votes) to former President Donald Trump. By comparison, Hillary Clinton lost to Trump by 112,911 votes in 2016.

Click here for the races to watch.