Full Breakdown
Jared Moskowitz Defeats Progressive Challenger Oliver Larkin in Florida’s Redrawn 25th District Democratic Primary
8/19/2026, 11:30:45 PM
Core Event – Primary Results
Incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) won the Democratic nomination for the newly drawn 25th Congressional District, securing roughly 63 % of the vote to Oliver Larkin’s 36 %, with more than 95 % of precincts reporting. The victory positions Moskowitz for a general-election contest against former Boca Raton mayor Scott Singer.
Background & Context
Florida’s 2026 mid-decade redistricting merged portions of the former 23rd, 24th and 25th districts into a single coastal seat that stretches from Miami Beach through Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton. The new district voted for President Donald Trump by about 9 points in 2024, a shift from its 2020 support for President Joe Biden. Demographically, the district is roughly 65 % white, 20 % Hispanic, and contains one of the nation’s largest Jewish Democratic electorates (about 25 %).
The primary highlighted an ideological split within the Florida Democratic Party over U.S. aid to Israel. Moskowitz, a prominent Jewish Democrat, has consistently supported continued military assistance to Israel and received backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Larkin, a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, labeled Israel’s war in Gaza a “genocide,” called for an arms embargo, and advocated ending U.S. military aid.
Data & Statistics
- Vote share: Moskowitz 63.5 % vs. Larkin 36.5 % (official tallies).
- Fundraising: Moskowitz reported nearly $3 million in receipts, including $667,200 from AIPAC-associated donors through June 30 and over $300,000 from the AI-focused super-PAC *Leading the Future*. Larkin raised just over $1 million, largely from small donors.
- Polling: Most surveys showed Moskowitz leading by double digits; a Center for Strategic Politics poll released by Larkin’s campaign placed the race at 40 %–38 % (Moskowitz–Larkin).
Official Statements & Responses
Moskowitz’s campaign emphasized his “independent-minded approach” and record of bipartisan legislation, noting his work on gun-control after the 2018 Parkland shooting and his leadership of Florida’s emergency-management agency during the COVID-19 pandemic. He declined to debate Larkin, stating on local radio that he would not “platform” an opponent he believed was running “solely on my religion.”
Larkin framed his campaign as a working-class alternative, pledging Medicare for All, a $25 federal minimum wage, universal child care, and the abolition of ICE. He argued that the Democratic establishment’s “rightward drift” had failed, citing former Governor Charlie Crist’s loss to Ron DeSantis in 2024.
Florida Democratic strategist Steve Schale argued that Moskowitz’s moderate stance may help him retain the seat, while Geoffrey Skelley, chief elections analyst at Decision Desk HQ, noted that the district’s older, more affluent electorate makes a progressive victory “challenging.”
Criticism & Opposition
Larkin accused Moskowitz of avoiding voter accountability, saying, “Congressman Moskowitz doesn’t want to be accountable to voters in this district.” The South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board called Moskowitz’s claim that Larkin was running “solely on my religion” “demonstrably false” and criticized the incumbent for refusing a joint interview.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Poll divergence – Most pre-primary polls projected a double-digit Moskowitz lead; the Center for Strategic Politics poll suggested a near tie.
- Fundraising transparency – While AIPAC contributions to Moskowitz are documented through June 30, the full extent of AI-related super-PAC spending remains unclear.
- General-election outlook – No definitive projection exists for the contest against Singer, given the district’s recent partisan realignment.
What’s Next
Moskowitz will face Republican nominee Scott Singer in the upcoming general election. Both candidates have pledged to address housing affordability, health-care costs, and disaster-relief preparedness, while the Israel-aid debate is expected to remain a focal point.
