Florida Primary Election Results Live: Jared Moskowitz has cleared the first major hurdle in his bid to remain in Congress, winning the Democratic primary for Florida’s newly redrawn 25th Congressional District. The victory over Democratic Socialist challenger Oliver Larkin sets up a closely watched general election in a district that has become significantly more favourable to Republicans after Florida’s latest redistricting.
The race drew attention well beyond South Florida because it placed a moderate Democratic incumbent against a progressive challenger backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Moskowitz ultimately secured the Democratic nomination, while the district’s Republican lean means his November contest could become one of the more competitive House races of the 2026 midterm cycle.
Jared Moskowitz Wins Democratic Primary in Florida’s 25th Congressional District
Moskowitz defeated Oliver Larkin in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, winning the nomination for the newly configured Florida 25th Congressional District.
The district covers communities along South Florida’s Atlantic coast, including areas around Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Miami Beach. It spans parts of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
The primary became an important test of the Democratic Party’s direction in a district where voters face a difficult general election environment.
Moskowitz entered the contest as the more established candidate, with a record in Congress and previous experience in Florida government. Larkin, meanwhile, presented himself as a progressive alternative and built his campaign around issues such as healthcare, tuition-free college and abolishing ICE.
Who is Jared Moskowitz?
Jared Moskowitz is a Democratic member of the U.S. House who previously represented Florida’s 23rd Congressional District.
Before entering Congress, Moskowitz held several public positions in Florida and served as the state’s director of emergency management. His background in disaster response became an important part of his political identity, particularly in a state frequently affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters.
After Florida adopted a new congressional map, Moskowitz shifted his re-election campaign to the newly drawn 25th District. The redistricting changed the political makeup of his electoral base and put him in a much more challenging environment.
Why is Florida’s 25th District Important?
The biggest reason the race has attracted national attention is the district’s new political makeup.
The redrawn FL-25 is significantly more favourable to Republicans than the territory Moskowitz previously represented. President Donald Trump won the district by roughly nine percentage points in 2024, according to analyses of the new boundaries.
That makes Moskowitz’s Democratic primary victory only the first part of the challenge.
He now has to defend a seat in a district where Republicans have a clear electoral advantage. The National Republican Congressional Committee has identified Moskowitz’s district as one of the Florida seats where Republicans see an opportunity to gain ground in the House.
The district also has a large independent voter population. Florida Politics reported that independents make up about 35.9% of registered voters in the new district, compared with 32.9% Republicans and 31.2% Democrats.
That could make the November campaign especially important for both parties.
Jared Moskowitz vs Oliver Larkin: How the Democratic Primary Took Shape
The Democratic primary represented a clash between two different approaches to winning in South Florida.
Moskowitz presented himself as a pragmatic Democrat with experience in government and a record of working across party lines. His campaign concentrated heavily on affordability, disaster preparedness, Social Security and Medicare.
Larkin ran a more progressive campaign and sought to mobilise voters around a broader Democratic Socialist agenda. His platform included universal healthcare, tuition-free public college and the abolition of ICE. He also criticised US military support for Israel.
The contest became particularly interesting because progressive candidates backed by the DSA had recently made gains in several Democratic primaries around the country. Larkin attempted to bring that momentum into South Florida, using a grassroots campaign that emphasised volunteers and door-to-door organising.
Moskowitz, however, argued that Democrats needed a candidate capable of winning in a Republican-leaning district.
Jared Moskowitz’s Campaign Focused on Affordability and Bipartisanship
Moskowitz’s campaign centred on issues that he argued affect voters regardless of party affiliation.
Affordability became one of his main themes as South Florida residents continue to deal with high housing and everyday living costs.
According to Florida Politics, Moskowitz said, “Florida families are struggling to afford everyday life while Washington is consumed by chaos and dysfunction.”
He also emphasised his record of public service and his ability to work with lawmakers from both parties.
That approach was particularly relevant in the newly drawn district, where neither Democratic voters nor Republican voters make up an overwhelming majority of the electorate.
Oliver Larkin’s Progressive Campaign
Oliver Larkin entered the primary as a considerably different type of Democratic candidate.
The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist built his campaign around grassroots organising and progressive economic policies. He supported universal healthcare, free college tuition and abolishing ICE, while also calling for changes to US foreign policy.
Larkin’s campaign attracted support from progressive activists and organisations, including the Democratic Socialists of America.
His challenge to Moskowitz also reflected a broader debate within the Democratic Party over whether candidates should prioritise ideological alignment or electability in competitive districts.
Earlier polling showed that the race could become competitive. One August survey commissioned by Larkin’s campaign found the two candidates in a statistical tie among likely Democratic primary voters, although other surveys had previously shown Moskowitz with a substantial lead.
Who Will Jared Moskowitz Face in the General Election?
Moskowitz will now turn his attention to the Republican side of the race.
Several Republicans competed for the nomination in the newly drawn district, including Scott Singer, George Moraitis, Dan Franzese, Raven Harrison and Joe Kaufman, according to the Florida Division of Elections candidate listing and local election coverage.
Scott Singer has emerged as one of the leading Republican contenders in the race.
The eventual Republican nominee will enter the general election with an important advantage: the new district has a Republican-leaning voting history.
However, the race is not necessarily a guaranteed Republican victory. The large independent electorate and the district’s coastal communities could give Democrats an opportunity if Moskowitz can appeal to voters beyond the Democratic base.
Why Redistricting Changed Moskowitz’s Re-Election Battle
Moskowitz’s current political challenge began with Florida’s mid-decade congressional redistricting.
The new map significantly changed several South Florida districts and created a more favourable environment for Republicans in multiple House races.
Moskowitz was among the Democratic incumbents affected by the changes. The new CD 25 stretches along the southeastern Florida coast and includes communities that previously belonged to different congressional districts.
The result was a district that Donald Trump carried in 2024 by roughly nine points.
For Democrats, keeping the seat will therefore require a strong general-election campaign. For Republicans, the district represents an opportunity to convert the new map’s Republican advantage into a House pickup.
What Does Moskowitz’s Victory Mean for the 2026 Midterms?
Moskowitz’s primary victory gives Democrats a well-known candidate in one of Florida’s most competitive new congressional districts.
The race also provides an early indication of how Democrats may approach Republican-leaning districts during the 2026 midterms. Rather than choosing a candidate solely on ideological grounds, Democratic voters in CD 25 ultimately selected a candidate with an established political record and experience winning elections.
Republicans, meanwhile, will view the district as a potential pickup opportunity.
The outcome could matter beyond Florida because control of the House will be one of the central battles of the November midterms. Reuters has identified Florida’s redrawn congressional map as one factor that could help Republicans compete for additional House seats.
Jared Moskowitz Wife
Jared Moskowitz is married to Leah Rifkin. Public biographical records identify Rifkin as his wife, although relatively little information about her personal life is publicly available. Moskowitz generally keeps his family’s private life separate from his political career.
Moskowitz’s family has nonetheless featured in his public biography, particularly as he has discussed his background in South Florida and his roots in the region.
Jared Moskowitz Children
Jared Moskowitz and his wife Leah Rifkin have two children.
- Sam Moskowitz
- Max Moskowitz
Jared Moskowitz Height
Jared Moskowitz’s exact height has not been officially confirmed or verified in public records. However, some unverified online sources estimate that the U.S. Representative is around 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 metres) tall. Moskowitz has also made light-hearted jokes about his height on social media.
Jared Moskowitz Primary
Jared Moskowitz won the Democratic primary for Florida’s newly redrawn 25th Congressional District on August 18, 2026, defeating Democratic Socialist challenger Oliver Larkin.
Moskowitz held a substantial lead throughout election night. NBC News called the race for him, and early results showed him winning by roughly 20 percentage points. Local10 reported that he received more than 60% of the vote.
With the Democratic nomination secured, Moskowitz now moves toward the general election, where he is expected to face the Republican nominee in a district that has been redrawn to favor the GOP.
The primary also represented a broader contest between the Democratic Party’s moderate and progressive wings. Larkin campaigned on policies including Medicare for All, tuition-free college and abolishing ICE, while Moskowitz emphasized his record and ability to work across party lines.
Jared Moskowitz Polls
Before the August 18 primary, most public polling showed Moskowitz ahead of Oliver Larkin, although the size of his advantage varied considerably between surveys.
A Florida Politics report published shortly before the primary cited one poll showing Moskowitz at 55.6% among likely Democratic primary voters, compared with 19.9% for Larkin. Another figure cited in the same report showed Moskowitz leading 51.2% to 19%.
However, the race received additional attention after a Democratic-sponsored Center for Strategic Politics poll showed a much tighter contest, with Moskowitz at 40% and Larkin at 38%. Most other polling had given the incumbent a significantly larger advantage.
The eventual election result was considerably more favorable to Moskowitz than the closest poll suggested. With most votes counted, he held roughly 64%, compared with about 36% for Larkin.
Jared Moskowitz Net Worth
U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz’s net worth is estimated at approximately $12.5 million to $14.4 million, based on financial data trackers that analyse his congressional financial disclosures. The estimates can vary depending on how assets and liabilities are valued.
- Estimated Net Worth: Approximately $12.5 million–$14.4 million
- Tracked Public Assets: Around $4.2 million–$4.4 million in publicly traded stocks and other reported assets.
Jared Moskowitz family
Jared Moskowitz comes from a South Florida family with a long connection to Democratic politics. His father, Michael Moskowitz, was an attorney and prominent Democratic fundraiser in Broward County. Michael Moskowitz died in January 2022.
Moskowitz has described his father as an important influence and mentor. His own political career developed in South Florida, where he represented the Coral Springs-Parkland area in the Florida Legislature before moving into emergency management and then Congress.
Moskowitz is married to Leah Rifkin, and the couple have two children. The family lives in Coral Springs, according to biographical records.
Jared Moskowitz Ethnicity
Jared Moskowitz is Jewish. He was born and raised in South Florida and has frequently spoken publicly about his Jewish identity and his connection to Israel.
His Jewish background has also been relevant to his political career, particularly in discussions about US-Israel relations and his positions on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Jewish Virtual Library identifies Moskowitz as a Jewish member of Congress, while his official congressional biography documents his South Florida upbringing and political career.
His Jewish identity is distinct from ethnicity in the strict demographic sense, so it is more accurate to describe Moskowitz as Jewish by religious/cultural identity and background rather than assign an unsupported racial or ethnic category.
What Happens Next in Florida’s 25th Congressional District?
The primary is over, but the more difficult contest may now begin.
Moskowitz must shift from winning Democratic voters to persuading independents and moderate voters who will decide the general election. His campaign is likely to continue emphasising affordability, public service, disaster preparedness and his record of working across party lines.
Republicans will focus on the district’s voting history and Trump’s 2024 performance, while attempting to connect Moskowitz to the national Democratic Party.
The general election will therefore test whether Moskowitz can overcome the Republican advantage created by redistricting.
