US Republican Ron DeSantis will be challenged by Democrat Charlie Crist in Florida's midterm election.
Many republican voters see Mr DeSantis as a natural heir to former president Donald Trump.
So who is Mr DeSantis and what could a midterm victory mean for him?
Who is Ron DeSantis?
Mr DeSantis emerged from a narrow victory four years ago to become one of the most prominent figures in Republican politics.
He is the nominee for the Florida governor race.
His hands-off approach to the pandemic and eagerness to lean into divides over race, gender and LGBTQ rights have resonated with many Republican voters who see Mr DeSantis as a natural heir to former President Donald Trump.
Mr DeSantis's plans to further his leadership in the Republican party adds to a sense of urgency among Democrats to blunt his rise now.
What are his political views?
Mr DeSantis has been regarded as a clear alternative to Mr Trump for Republicans.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he resisted strict COVID-19 restrictions like mask mandates, stay-at-home orders and vaccination requirements.
More recently, he signed into law the Parental Rights in Education Act, which is called the "Don't Say Gay Law" that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
What does his potential victory mean?
Mr DeSantis views his November re-election as a potential springboard into the 2024 presidential contest.
And recent polling data shows Mr DeSantis leading Mr Crist by several percentage points.
But the Democrats are determined to spoil his plans.
“This guy wants to be president of the United States of America and everybody knows it. However, when we defeat them on November 8 that show is over. Enough," Mr Crist said.
Mr DeSantis hasn't committed publicly to running for president, but it's widely accepted that he intends to.
A look at Florida's primary election results
Mr Crist defeated Nikki Fried, the state agriculture commissioner.
In selecting Mr Crist, Florida Democrats sided with a candidate backed by many in the party who viewed him as the safest choice.
The 66-year-old has already served one term as governor, running as a Republican at the time before gravitating toward Democrats.
“Tonight, the people of Florida clearly sent a message: They want a governor who cares about them and solves real problems, preserves our freedom, not a bully who divides us and takes our freedom away," Mr Crist said.
Ms Fried, who Mr Crist defeated, said she called him to congratulate him on his victory and asked her supporters to come together to support the Democratic nominee.
“We are going to make Ronald DeSantis a one-term governor and a zero-term president of the United States," she said.
Results across the state
Elsewhere in Florida, Trump protégé Matt Gaetz won the Republican primary in his Florida Panhandle district despite being under federal investigation in a sex trafficking case.
Mr Gaetz is heavily favoured to win a fourth term come November.
In the senate, Val Demings easily won the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Senator Marco Rubio.
Ms Demings, a former police chief and a prodigious political fundraiser, has a chance to become Florida’s first Black female senator.
While some Democrats are hopeful that Ms Demings can unseat Senator Rubio, the party's national leadership is prioritising competitive Senate contests in other states, including neighbouring Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
ABC/wires
