August Election Results

31 August, 2022

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The August 23, 2022, primary included two of the nation’s most populous states, Florida and New York. Here, Election Central examines some of the takeaways from some of the key races of this important night in those states, as well as in Oklahoma.

New York

In the 17^th Congressional District primary, Sean Patrick Maloney, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, beat progressive Democrat Alessandra Biaggi by a wide margin of 67 percent to 33 percent. Biaggi was backed by well-known progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. The strength of this defeat suggests that the more liberal Democratic candidates still have a hard time getting voter support.

In the 12^th District, which includes Manhattan, redistricting put two powerful Democrats against each other: Rep. Jerry Nadler and Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Nadler won the primary by a wide margin: 55 percent to 24 percent.

In addition to the primary, a special election was held in New York’s 19^th Congressional District, Democrat Pat Ryan beat Republican Marc Molinaro by about two points (51 percent to 49 percent). Key issues in the election were abortion rights, inflation, and crime.

Florida

In the Democratic primary for governor, Representative Charlie Crist defeated Nikki Fried, the state’s agriculture commissioner. Crist is well known to Florida citizens. He was the governor from 2007 to 2011. Crist also switched from the Republican Party in 2012. Crist’s margin of victory was more than twenty points. Charlie Crist will now face off against Governor Ron DeSantis in the general election in November.

Crist’s name recognition may have helped his campaign but in another Democratic primary name recognition was not a factor. Maxwell Front is a twenty-five-year-old from Orlando. He could become the first Gen Z member of Congress if he wins in November.

Another race to watch in Florida is for U.S. Senate between Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Representative Val Demings. Both Rubio and Demings won their primaries. Rubio is a vocal Trump supporter and current U.S. Senator. Demings is the former Orlando chief of police and current member of the House.

Oklahoma

In the Republican primary for one of Oklahoma’s U.S. Senate seats, U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin won with nearly 44 percent of the vote. Mullin, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was endorsed by Donald Trump. He has a strong chance to win the general election in November. Oklahoma hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than three decades.

In the Democratic primary for the other U.S. Senate seat, cybersecurity expert Madison Horn defeated Oklahoma City attorney Jason Bollinger, 66 percent to 35 percent. Horn will face incumbent U.S. Senator James Lankford in November.