Florida Democratic voters delivered another shock upset to the party establishment by nominating , a democratic socialist, , a moderate former national security professional who played a central role in President Donald Trump’s .
Democrats have hoped to mount a comeback in the diverse, populous and economically dynamic state but have struggled to craft a message that resonates in the Sunshine State’s political climate. Nixon’s upset sets up a long-shot challenge to U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, a former state attorney general selected by Gov. Ron DeSantis after Marco Rubio vacated it when Trump chose him as secretary of state.
The race has already inflamed tensions within the Democratic Party over how to energize liberal voters eager for unapologetic, combative candidates without alienating independents and moderates who have been key to winning in battleground states.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e surprised by tonight鈥檚 election results, you haven鈥檛 been paying enough attention to what鈥檚 happening in the South,鈥� said Britney Whaley, the southeast regional director of the Working Families Party, which backs populist candidates. 鈥淭onight鈥檚 election results must be a wake-up call to a political establishment that believes a populist message can鈥檛 win in the South. Angie鈥檚 campaign proves voters will respond to a bold economic vision that meets their basic needs.鈥�
A proud progressive who campaigned with new tactics
A spirited progressive who had the backing of Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Nixon is a longtime labor organizer who recently joined the Democratic Socialists of America. She championed policies like universal healthcare and childcare and has been an outspoken critic of U.S. foreign policy and the war in Gaza.
In May, Nixon protested the Republican-controlled Florida legislature鈥檚 by shouting through a megaphone on the state House floor. She was later reprimanded by an ethics committee but earned plaudits from Democratic allies and voting rights groups for her demonstration.
Vindman raised about $16 million in his race and had spent more than $9 million by the end of July. Nixon, by contrast, had raised just shy of $1 million. Nixon eschewed broadcast television advertising, instead focusing on targeting voters on social media. She was backed by prominent online figures like children鈥檚 education influencer Ms. Rachel.
In contrast to other high-profile statewide democratic socialist bids this year, Nixon received little opposition from national Democratic figures or major political action committees. That didn’t stop progressives from immediately touting her win as a sign of greater momentum for the region.
Florida’s Senate race was widely considered out of reach for Democrats and not central to the party’s efforts to retake the upper chamber. Nevertheless, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin issued a statement praising Nixon as a 鈥減roven leader,鈥� adding that the DNC 鈥渋s ready to help elect Angie and work together to flip this seat.鈥�
A defeat for 鈥榬esistance鈥� Democratic politics
Vindman served on the White House’s National Security Council during Trump’s first term. His testimony was central to Trump’s first impeachment over a phone call in which the president pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden and his family. Vindman became a national Democratic star and target of Trump’s ire for his actions, a dynamic that garnered him millions in small-dollar donations.
His twin brother Eugene, who also served on the council, is a Democratic congressman from Virginia.
鈥淩ep. Nixon ran a strong campaign. I will be standing by her side in the fight against Ashley Moody. I hope you鈥檒l join me,鈥� Vindman said in a statement after he conceded the race.
Trump gleefully hailed Vindman’s defeat to Nixon.
鈥淭he most gratifying loss last night was that of a real treasonous creep, Alexander Vindman, to a Radical Left Lunatic, who can鈥檛 speak or think properly, and who will go down to certain defeat at the hands of Ashley Moody, a truly Fantastic Senator, from the Great State Florida,鈥� Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump added that Vindman 鈥渟hould be prosecuted for what he鈥檇 did!鈥�
Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had hoped Vindman’s reputation and campaign war chest would turn what election analysts considered a solidly Republican seat into a more competitive race. Nixon鈥檚 upset victory has now buoyed already high Republican confidence in the state and raised progressive confidence about the strength of their message.
Vindman’s defeat mirrors that of others who rose to prominence opposing Trump during his first administration, when Democrats embraced 鈥渞esistance鈥� as a moniker for that opposition and for standing up for the rule of law. Their defeats may show how rank-and-file voters have shifted toward more strident and affirmative visions of politics.
In May, Rep. Al Green of Texas, a longtime Trump opponent and civil rights icon, lost a runoff race to Rep. Christian Menefee, a freshman progressive representative less than half Green’s age.
Rep. Dan Goldman, who served as counsel for House Democrats during Trump’s first impeachment, lost his primary in June to progressive challenger Brad Lander, who had the backing of New York City’s democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani. George Conway, a liberal lawyer who has garnered Trump’s ire, came in fifth place in another New York Democratic primary for U.S. House.
And earlier this month, Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan, who last year introduced articles of impeachment against Trump, lost his primary to a democratic socialist in a Detroit-area congressional race.
Nixon’s win headlined mixed results for progressives
In multiple southern Florida congressional primaries Tuesday, left-flank candidates lost to more moderate ones. While the state has shifted rightward in recent election cycles, Florida has long been a refuge for Latino communities who had fled left-wing authoritarian regimes in Latin America. Many of those Floridians have consequently reacted negatively to anything or anyone labeled as socialist.
Elijah Manley, who finished third in a Broward County U.S. House primary won by Debbie Wasserman Schultz, acknowledged the tightrope. He got about 14% of the vote in a five-way race. In neighboring districts, Rep. Jared Moskowitz and political newcomer Pia Dandiya ran as moderates and won 64% and 69% of the vote, respectively, over more progressive opponents.
鈥淚鈥檓 a proud moderate. We need more moderates,鈥� Dandiya said in an interview.
The Senate returns showed similar trends. Nixon carried most of the state but was weakest in southern Florida, which includes some of the state’s largest Latino communities.
Still, Manley insisted the broader electorate wants a more aggressive, left-leaning party.
鈥淭hey have looked at the Democratic establishment for the past four years, even 10 years, and it鈥檚 something that just isn鈥檛 working for them,鈥� he said.
鈥淪ay what you will about the DSA. They鈥檙e organizing. They鈥檙e bringing people into the party. They鈥檙e exciting people, and they鈥檙e getting people. We should be happy that that鈥檚 happening,鈥� Manley added.
Nixon’s allies view her voter base, which includes some of the most working-class and majority-Black counties in the state, as another path to power when coupled with the broader Democratic coalition. But they caution intraparty divisions and an inauthentic message could hamper a candidate from any wing of the party.
鈥淚 think people are looking for change. They鈥檙e looking for leadership who they can trust and who listens,鈥� said Mon茅 Holder, a liberal activist and urban planning committee chair who defeated a Republican for an at-large seat on Jacksonville鈥檚 city council.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking for people to serve who aren鈥檛 wrapped up in political drama, but are about people. And I think voters came out to show that, and it proved itself in my election, and Angie鈥檚, and a few others,鈥� Holder said.
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Associated Press writer Bill Barrow contributed to this report.
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