Trump-endorsed Lauf loses GOP primary for open Donalds seat in Florida

Jim Schwartzel is projected to defeat Catalina Lauf to clinch the GOP nomination for Rep. Byron Donalds's House seat in Florida, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). His victory delivers a blow to President Trump, who threw his support behind Lauf's campaign last week. Schwartzel, the president of Sun Broadcasting, and Lauf, a former Commerce Department adviser, were neck-in-neck in the polls heading into Tuesday. Schwartzel came out on top in the crowded Republican race to succeed Donalds in the ruby red 19th Congressional District after he opted to run for governor. Other candidates jockeying for the GOP nod included former Reps. Madison Cawthorn (N.C.) and Chris Collins (N.Y.) as well as John Strand, who was pardoned for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, among others. The Cook Political Report and DDHQ rate the race as a safely and solidly in the GOP's corner, putting Schwartzel on track to join Congress. He was endorsed by both House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). On the other side of the aisle, attorney Victor Arias, former House candidate Robert Neeld and former state House candidate Howard Sapp are running for the Democratic nomination.