Florida Democrats delivered a series of primary upsets on Tuesday, as progressive challengers defeated three prominent anti-Trump incumbents in contests that underscored shifting priorities within the party. State Rep. Angie Nixon defeated Army veteran and former National Security Council official Alex Vindman in the Senate primary, while Melat Kiros defeated Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District. In New York, Brad Lander defeated Rep. Dan Goldman, who had served as lead counsel during Trump’s first impeachment trial.
The losses follow a pattern of defeats for candidates who prominently featured their roles in Trump’s impeachments in their campaigns. Vindman, DeGette, and Goldman each highlighted their impeachment-related work in advertisements and public statements. Nixon, Kiros, and Lander ran as progressive alternatives, emphasizing economic and social justice issues over anti-Trump messaging.
Vindman raised $16.2 million for his Senate bid, significantly outpacing Nixon’s $974,844 in fundraising. Despite the financial advantage, Nixon won by an 11-percentage-point margin, carrying all major metropolitan areas except Palm Beach County. Vindman’s campaign had framed his impeachment testimony as a defense of democratic norms, with a narrator stating in one ad: “When Donald Trump abused power, Vindman stood his ground and called him out.”
In Colorado, DeGette’s campaign had similarly emphasized her role as an impeachment manager, with ads stating: “Diana DeGette is fighting Donald Trump to protect our democracy.” Kiros, a democratic socialist, positioned herself as a champion of progressive policies, including Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. In New York, Lander defeated Goldman, who had been a vocal critic of Trump’s foreign policy and domestic actions during his first impeachment.
The primary results reflect broader trends in Democratic politics, with progressive factions gaining momentum in intraparty contests. Analysts note that while anti-Trump sentiment remains a potent force in fundraising and activism, it may no longer be the decisive factor in primary elections. Nate Silver, a political statistician, summarized the trend on social media, stating: “It’s kind of been a rough set of primaries for Heroes of the Resistance 1.0.”
The defeats come as some Democratic leaders and strategists question whether the party’s focus on Trump has overshadowed other pressing issues, including economic inequality, healthcare, and climate change. The primary results also signal a generational shift within the party, with younger, more progressive candidates challenging establishment-backed incumbents.
All three defeated incumbents had been prominent figures in the party’s resistance to Trump during his presidency. Vindman’s testimony during Trump’s first impeachment centered on allegations that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. DeGette and Goldman were both involved in the impeachment proceedings following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, with DeGette serving as an impeachment manager and Goldman leading the House’s legal team during Trump’s first impeachment in 2019.
The primary results do not immediately alter the political landscape for the general election. Nixon is expected to face Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) in November, while Kiros and Lander will compete in solidly Democratic districts. However, the outcomes may influence the party’s messaging and strategy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, as Democrats seek to balance opposition to Trump with a broader policy agenda.