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Nixon defeats Vindman
Progressive Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida after defeating retired Lt. Col. Alex Vindman in the party’s Senate primary.
“Nixon’s stunning Florida Senate primary win on Tuesday gave the Democratic Socialists of America its biggest statewide breakthrough yet”
Axios said Nixon’s “stunning Florida Senate primary win on Tuesday” gave the Democratic Socialists of America its “biggest statewide breakthrough yet,” with Nixon beating Vindman in President Trump’s home state of Florida.
The Hill reported that Nixon and Vindman were the only two Democrats running for the party’s nod for the Florida Senate seat currently held by Sen. Ashley Moody.
The 19th News said Nixon will face Republican Ashley Moody in November after the Democratic primary upset.
The New York Times live results page said the race was called for Nixon by The Associated Press.
Money, endorsements, and quotes
Axios said Nixon beat Vindman despite raising just $975,000 to Vindman’s $16.3 million in President Trump’s home state, and it added that Vindman spent more than $2 million on advertisements while Nixon spent less than $60,000, according to AdImpact.
The 19th News quoted Nixon’s victory speech, including her line thanking “the hundreds of thousands of Floridians who stood up because they believe in a vision of a better Florida, that we deserve to thrive not just survive.”
The Guardian reported that Nixon told the Tampa Bay Times, “Floridians don’t want the establishment in Washington DC deciding who their Democratic nominee and US senator is going to be,” and it said Vindman did not agree to debate Nixon.
In a post after the race was called, Vindman praised Nixon, writing that she “ran a strong campaign” and adding, “I will be standing by her side in the fight against Ashley Moody.”
Moody in November
The 19th News said Nixon’s win gives progressives a chance to upset Republican Ashley Moody in November, and it described Moody as the Republican appointed to fill the seat vacated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in January 2025.
“The progressive state representative will face Republican Ashley Moody in November”
NBC News said the appointed GOP Sen. Ashley Moody is running in a special election for the final two years of the term Secretary of State Marco Rubio won in 2022.
The Hill said the winner of the Democratic primary would face Moody for the Florida Senate seat currently held by Moody, and it noted that whoever wins in November will still need to run again in 2028 if they want the full six-year term.
Axios said Republicans are expected to highlight Nixon’s membership in the DSA, and it quoted Nixon telling a Jacksonville rally in her victory speech, “We know the attacks are coming.”
The Guardian said national Democratic leaders praised Nixon’s victory, including Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand releasing a statement noting her background as a former union organizer and that she had “dedicated her career to fighting for Florida.”
