Florida’s elections are exposing the Democratic Party’s identity crisis

Florida has become the stage for one of the most revealing political debates of the 2026 elections. Beyond the familiar battle between Republicans and Democrats, the state’s statewide races are exposing a deeper question: What does today’s Democratic Party actually stand for?

In the gubernatorial race, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) faces David Jolly, a former Republican congressman now running as a Democrat. Meanwhile, Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) faces Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon, a state representative whose unexpected primary victory has brought renewed attention to the party’s progressive wing.