Oliver Larkin, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and union organizer, is challenging two-term incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz in Florida’s 25th Congressional District Democratic primary today, marking a pivotal test for the Democratic Socialists of America’s ability to win in a competitive, diverse district outside deep-blue urban centers.
Larkin’s campaign represents the DSA’s latest push to expand beyond its traditional base of younger progressives in major cities. The national DSA has already notched 63 primary victories this cycle, including Melat Kiros’s upset of 15-term Colorado incumbent Diana DeGette in June, and the organization has made Larkin’s race its final nationally-endorsed congressional campaign of 2026.
The two candidates present starkly different visions for how Democrats can win in Florida. Moskowitz, who served as Gov. Ron DeSantis’s emergency management director before his 2022 election to Congress, positions himself as a pragmatist willing to work across party lines in a state where Republicans control every lever of government. Larkin argues that the Democratic establishment’s rightward drift has failed, pointing to Democrat Charlie Crist’s decisive loss to DeSantis in 2024 as evidence that splitting the difference does not work.
Larkin supports Medicare for All, free tuition at public universities, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He opposes the embargo on Cuba and weapons transfers to Israel, stances that put him at odds with Moskowitz, who has drawn heavy support from AIPAC-associated donors and has become the first congressional Democrat to join Trump’s “department of government efficiency” initiative. Moskowitz also voted for the Laken Riley Act, which expanded ICE detention authority—a decision Larkin has criticized sharply.
Polling has tightened dramatically in recent weeks. A Beacon Insights poll in June showed Moskowitz leading Larkin 51% to 19%, but a Center for Strategic Politics survey released last week found the two candidates in a statistical tie, according to reporting by The Guardian. Experts caution against reading too much into primary polls given lower turnout and higher undecided voter rates, but the shift reflects Larkin’s growing momentum.
The fundraising gap remains stark. Moskowitz has raised nearly $3 million this cycle, with $953,000 from AIPAC-associated donors and over $300,000 in spending from an artificial intelligence super PAC called Leading the Future. Larkin, by contrast, has raised over $1 million from nearly 20,000 unique donors, explicitly rejecting corporate contributions. He has also leaned into the broader DSA wave, appearing alongside Twitch streamer Hasan Piker at a virtual fundraiser that pulled in roughly $60,000 in a single night.
Larkin’s strategy centers on grassroots organizing rather than television advertising. His campaign reports knocking on more than 35,000 doors and making over 170,000 voter calls since April. Moskowitz, by contrast, has largely avoided public events with voters and has not agreed to any debates, prompting criticism from the local press and Larkin’s campaign. “Congressman Moskowitz doesn’t want to be accountable to voters in this district,” Larkin said in recent interviews.
The race carries broader implications for the Democratic Party’s direction heading into November. Florida’s 25th District is newly drawn, highly competitive, and boasts a diverse electorate—majority white (65%), with a sizable Hispanic population (20%) and one of the nation’s largest Jewish Democratic electorates. The district would have voted for Donald Trump in 2024, making it fundamentally different terrain from the solidly blue districts where DSA candidates have won this cycle. Political scientist Sean Foreman of Barry University noted that while progressive policies like raising the minimum wage and affordable housing resonate with voters, “the anti-socialism card has been played for so long that it’s ingrained in our politics here,” and he remains uncertain whether conditions exist in Florida for a DSA breakthrough.
Regardless of tonight’s outcome, observers say the DSA has already shifted the conversation. “The democratic socialists have already won this round in Florida, even if none of their candidates win, because they’ve gotten a lot more attention than you would have expected otherwise,” Foreman told The Guardian.
Sources
- The Guardian — Larkin’s background, campaign strategy, district demographics, polling data, expert commentary from Foreman and Schale, and Larkin’s policy positions
- The Intercept — Larkin’s fundraising figures ($1 million), Moskowitz’s AIPAC donations ($953,000) and AI super PAC spending ($300,000+), Larkin’s door-knocking and voter contact numbers (35,000+ doors, 170,000+ calls), debate avoidance
- ABC News — DSA’s 63 primary wins this cycle, Melat Kiros’s victory over Diana DeGette, Larkin’s policy platform, Moskowitz’s DOGE affiliation and Laken Riley Act vote
- Democratic Left — Larkin’s race as DSA’s final nationally-endorsed congressional campaign of 2026
