Democratic Socialist Upsets Vindman in Florida Primary
Democratic Socialist Upsets Vindman in Florida Primary
The News
Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won Tuesday's Democratic Senate primary in Florida, upsetting retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman by nearly 12 points.
Nixon led 56% to 44% with more than 95% of votes counted.
She did it while badly outspent: Nixon raised under $1 million, while Vindman had spent more than $9 million by late July.
Nixon now faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November, in a state election analysts rated solidly Republican before the primary.
Timeline
the retired Army officer central to President Trump's first impeachment — was the long-presumed front-runner, inside Florida and out.
By late July, Vindman's campaign had spent more than $9 million. Nixon's operation raised under $1 million.
Florida, Alaska and Wyoming held primaries. Nixon took the Democratic Senate nomination 56-44.
After the result, prediction markets put Moody at 91% and Nixon at 9% to win the seat in November.
Reactions
Vindman said he will support Nixon in the general election.
David de la Fuente of the centrist think tank Third Way said the far left defeating three incumbents this cycle is "an impressive feat," but argued the movement is "turning blue places even bluer" rather than flipping competitive seats.
Fox News framed the result as the DSA's grip on the Democratic Party reaching new territory, noting the group opened a hub in Sen. Jon Ossoff's Atlanta backyard as socialist candidates beat establishment Democrats around the country. The Western Journal called it another socialist upset in a critical Senate race.
Politico's read was different: that Florida voters hungry for change snubbed the Democratic establishment and Trump alike, with Republican primary voters spurning the president's endorsements in two House races.
What's Next
Nixon meets Moody on the November midterm ballot. Moody was appointed to the seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis after Marco Rubio became secretary of state.
The test is whether Nixon's economic platform — universal healthcare, a $25 federal minimum wage and higher taxes on the wealthy — can pull independents and moderates in a state that has moved right since 2016.
Democrats spend the fall arguing over the same question nationally as they try to flip the House and Senate.
More
Nixon's win is not isolated. A CBS News analysis found about two-thirds of House candidates endorsed by the DSA or Justice Democrats won their primaries this cycle.
Tuesday's three-state slate also delivered a mixed record for Trump's handpicked candidates, and one other DSA-aligned candidate was defeated handily.
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