President Donald Trump suffers another midterm loss as candidate he endorsed falls in Florida’s Republican primaries
President Donald Trump suffered another setback in the 2026 midterm primary season when his endorsed candidate, Catalina Lauf, lost Florida’s Republican primary for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds. Instead, conservative media executive Jim Schwartzel won the GOP nomination in Florida’s 19th Congressional District – a district where the Republican nominee is overwhelmingly favored to win in November – defeating Lauf and a crowded Republican field that included former Representatives Madison Cawthorn and Chris Collins. For Trump, the loss is likely bittersweet, as his endorsed candidate won the Republican nomination for the November Florida gubernatorial race.
Catalina Lauf loses crowded Republican primary
The Associated Press called the race for Schwartzel at 8:03 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 18. By 9:58 p.m. ET, Schwartzel had secured roughly 29% of the vote, compared with about 22% for Lauf. The result is significant because Florida’s 19th District is safely Republican. Donalds won the district with about 66% of the vote in 2024, meaning the primary winner is expected to have a strong advantage in the November general election.
Donald Trump’s late endorsement of Catalina Lauf
Trump endorsed Lauf late in the campaign as he sought to influence the race after Donalds left the safely Republican House seat to pursue the Republican nomination for governor. Trump formally backed Lauf on Truth Social last week, writing, “As a former Presidential Appointee at the U.S. Department of Commerce in my First Administration, Catalina has proven she has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of her State and Nation—She has truly been with us from the beginning!” Lauf previously made an unsuccessful congressional run in Illinois before moving to Florida.
Another setback for Donald Trump
Trump has secured several major endorsement victories during the 2026 primary season but has also suffered notable defeats. Among them was Rep. Randy Feenstra’s loss to businessman and farmer Zach Lahn in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary, despite the former securing presidential endorsement.
The setback in Florida comes as Republicans enter a midterm cycle in which the president’s party traditionally loses congressional seats. Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority of 218 seats to Democrats’ 212, making the outcome of the November elections particularly consequential.
Donald Trump secures a win elsewhere
While Trump’s preferred candidate lost the congressional primary, the president scored a major victory elsewhere in Florida on Tuesday. Donalds won the Republican nomination for governor with Trump’s backing and will face Democratic nominee David Jolly in November. Trump appeared upbeat Tuesday night despite Lauf’s defeat, posting on X, “A lot of great WINS tonight!!! President DJT.”
The two races now set Florida’s major Republican contests for the general election, with Republicans seeking to maintain their dominant position in the state while Donalds attempts to win the Florida gubernatorial race in November.