Progressive Insurgent Nixon Scores Upset In Florida Dem Senate Primary

MIAMI — State Rep. Angie Nixon pulled off a shocking upset in Florida’s Democratic primary for Senate, defeating her better-funded opponent, retired Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, in a massive victory for progressives that continues their successes nationwide.

The win in a red state that plays an outsized role in national GOP politics marks one of the progressive movement’s biggest breakthroughs yet this primary season, in part because other successes have been in blue and purple states. But it’s also viewed as a messaging boost in the general election for Republicans, who’ve been eager to tie Democrats across the ballot in Florida to far-left positions.

The Senate race will be at the top of November ballots. Nixon will face off against GOP Sen. Ashley Moody, who was appointed to her seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the vacancy Marco Rubio left when he became secretary of State. If Nixon wins, she would be the first Black senator in Florida history.

Democrats have a narrow path toward a Senate majority in November, in which they’d have to keep all the seats they currently hold and flip four others. Florida’s electorate is more complex than other states, given the large swath of Latino voters and their family members who fled left-wing dictatorships and fear similar ideologies taking hold in the U.S.

Nixon joined the Democratic Socialist of America during the course of her primary bid — though the group didn’t endorse her — and had backing from progressives including Democratic Reps. Maxwell Frost of Florida, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

Vindman didn’t debate Nixon during the campaign, and distanced himself from the party’s left flank. Nixon stressed that Democrats haven’t been forceful enough in their messaging, saying the cost-of-living concerns people were facing on health care, housing and food assistance demanded an aggressive response.

She made waves a few years ago when she organized a sit-in on the state House floor against a congressional map pushed by DeSantis — and again during the rare mid-decade redistricting this year, when she wore a pink jumpsuit and brought a pink megaphone to the floor to bash the new maps as illegal and unconstitutional. She faces trial in September on two misdemeanors related to her refusal to leave DeSantis’ office during a May sit-in to try to meet with the governor over redistricting.

She has called herself “the biggest pain in Ron DeSantis’ ass” and often says on the stump that she wants to become “the biggest pain in Donald Trump’s ass.”

She’s likely to face criticisms over comments and positions she has taken on Israel. During her time in the state House, Nixon introduced a resolution that called for a “de-escalation and ceasefire in the state of Israel and occupied Palestine.” Jewish lawmakers from both sides of the aisle called it antisemitic at the time.

Moody is a former state attorney general who has held scant solo public appearances for her campaign and conducted few media interviews, frustrating GOP county chairs and operatives and leaving voters with unanswered questions about her positions on key issues. Most of Moody’s comments about the state of politics have been missives against progressives — so Nixon’s win is likely to intensify that messaging.

Republicans statewide start out with an advantage in Florida since GOP registered voters outnumber Democrats by 1.5 million people. Moody’s endorsement by Trump early in the race allowed her to avoid any serious primary challengers, and in her state AG races she won by higher margins than DeSantis.