WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Florida, the United States' third most populated state and a known swing state, held its primaries Tuesday, choosing a follower of President Donald Trump and a liberal Democrat as governor candidates to face off in the midterm elections.
Ron DeSantis, a Republican Congressman, won an easy victory over his biggest opponent Adam Putnam, the state's agriculture commissioner, to become his party's nominee for the governorship race in November.
The 39-year-old made painstaking efforts during the campaign to appeal to Trump, even featuring his toddler child in an advertisement in support of Trump's controversial policies.
He emerged victorious after Trump endorsed him, making him the favorite in the race.
Trump touted the victory on Twitter, cheering him on for the showdown in November.
DeSantis will compete with Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, capital of Florida.
On the Democratic side, the victory of Gillum was seen as an upset over former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, whose centrist view was thought to be more appealing to voters in the midterms.
Former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, who shares similar views with Gillum, said in a statement that Gillum's victory was the result of "a political revolution."
In the Senate race, incumbent Governor Rick Scott, who won 88.6 percent of the primary votes, will present a stiff challenge for incumbent Bill Nelson, who has served three terms in the Senate and is the only current statewide elected Democratic official in Florida.
The state of Arizona also held its primary Tuesday, where the governorship and a senate seat are at stake.
