In a highly anticipated primary race, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz faces off against Navy veteran Aaron Dimmock in Florida's upcoming primary elections on Tuesday. This contest holds particular significance for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who seeks an opportunity to exact revenge on the Republican colleagues who played a part in his ousting last year.

Despite McCarthy's backing of Dimmock and the significant financial support from the Florida Patriots PAC, a group associated with McCarthy's allies, Gaetz remains the heavy favorite leading up to the primary. The Florida Patriots PAC has spent a staggering $3.5 million on ads against Gaetz, with a focus on an ongoing Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz's alleged drug use and sexual misconduct. Gaetz, however, has dismissed the investigation as "frivolous."

Interestingly, the Florida Patriots PAC halted its support for Dimmock three weeks ago, suggesting that Gaetz holds a favorable position in the race. Gaetz stands as the final member of the GOP cohort that voted to remove McCarthy as Speaker of the House to face a primary this year. While most of his colleagues who ran for re-election successfully secured renomination, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good from Virginia lost a closely contested primary earlier this summer.

Gaetz stands out from his GOP peers as he enjoys a crucial endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Leveraging Trump's support in his campaign, Gaetz has featured audio of the former president praising him as "a very good person and a very capable man" in his TV advertisements. Such backing from Trump positions Gaetz favorably among Republican voters in his conservative 1st District.

Recognizing Gaetz's stronghold in this election, McCarthy has acknowledged that defeating Gaetz in his district would be a formidable task. However, speculation suggests that McCarthy's opposition to Gaetz may also be part of a larger strategy to damage Gaetz's standing ahead of a potential statewide bid in the future.

Florida's primary elections also hold significance beyond Gaetz's race. Former President Trump has publicly endorsed all other members of the state's GOP delegation up for re-election, including Sen. Rick Scott. One of the primary contests to watch is the Republican primary in Florida's 8th District, which aims to replace retiring GOP Rep. Bill Posey. Trump has thrown his support behind former state Sen. Mike Haridopolos in this race.

Ultimately, Tuesday's primaries in Florida will set the stage for several competitive House races in November, including contests involving GOP Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Maria Elvira Salazar and Democratic Reps. Darren Soto and Jared Moskowitz. In addition, a state Senate contest in Florida has become the most expensive primary in terms of ad spending, exceeding $10 million.

Meanwhile, in Alaska's at-large congressional district, the primary elections will determine the top four vote-getters regardless of party affiliation. The November election will then be decided through ranked-choice voting. Republican Rep. Mary Peltola, one of the five Democrats representing a district Trump carried in 2020, becomes a significant target for the GOP. Notably, the top two GOP candidates in Alaska are Nick Begich, who hails from a politically prominent family in the state, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, both receiving endorsements from President Trump and other GOP leaders.

As the primary elections unfold in Florida, Wyoming, and Alaska, political dynamics are at play, with potential implications for both local and national politics. The outcomes of these races will shape the future of the Republican Party and its candidates' viability in the upcoming general elections.