President Donald Trump has utilized his social media platform, Truth Social, to publicly endorse several candidates ahead of the Florida Primary Election on August 18, 2026. The endorsements cover a wide range of races across the state, including high-profile contests for governor and U.S. Senate, as well as local districts such as House District 87 in Palm Beach County, which includes Trump's private club, Mar-a-Lago. With early voting concluding on Sunday, August 15, voters are preparing to head to the polls on Election Day when they will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Key Dates and Voting Information
The Florida Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Early voting began at 8 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, and runs through 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 15. It is important to note that Florida operates as a closed primary state; therefore, only voters registered with a specific political party are eligible to vote in that party's primary races. However, all registered voters may participate in non-partisan races and universal primary contests where candidates from the same party compete.
Most eligible residents have received sample ballots by mail to assist them in preparing for Election Day. The list of contested primaries includes state attorney general, most state senators and representatives, circuit judges, several U.S. representatives, and local positions. Many candidates are running unopposed in their party's primary and will appear on the ballot only during the general election.
Notable Endorsements Including Mar-a-Lago District
A significant race drawing attention is the Republican primary for Florida House District 87, a coastal stretch of Palm Beach County. This district includes Trump's private club, and the contest involves Republicans Jon Maples and Jonathan Rubin challenging Democratic state Rep. Emily Gregory. Gregory flipped this previously Republican-held seat in a March special election, giving Democrats control of the district after it was redrawn in 2022.
Trump has endorsed Jon Maples for House District 87. Other major endorsements include Byron Donalds for governor and Ashley Moody for U.S. Senate. In the race for Florida Attorney General, Trump backed incumbent James Uthmeier, whose primary opponent dropped out of the race; he will face Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez in November.
Endorsements Across Congressional Districts
The President's endorsements extend across numerous congressional districts. In Congressional District 1, Jimmy Patronis received support, while Kat Cammack was endorsed for District 3 and Aaron Bean for District 4. Other notable Republican candidates backed by Trump include John Rutherford (District 5), Randy Fine (District 6), Mike Haridopolos (District 8), Gus Bilirakis (District 12), Anna Paulina Luna (District 13), Laurel Lee (District 15), Sydney Gruters (District 16), Greg Steube (District 17), Scott Franklin (District 18), Catalina Lauf (District 19), Brian Mast (District 21), Mario Diaz-Balart (District 26), Maria Elvira Salazar (District 27), and Carlos Gimenez (District 28).
For House District 94, Trump endorsed Meg Weinberger. These endorsements highlight the President's active role in shaping the Republican ticket for the upcoming general election cycle as Florida voters prepare to make their selections on August 18.
