Socialist Nixon Upsets Vindman, Faces Moody in November
Socialist Nixon Upsets Vindman, Faces Moody in November
The News
Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, a Jacksonville progressive and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, beating retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman — the former National Security Council aide who became a key witness in President Trump's first impeachment.
The Associated Press projected the race for Nixon. The New York Post reported she led 55.2% to 44.8% with more than 80% of ballots counted when the AP made the call; the Washington Examiner put the margin at 55.8% to 44.3%.
Republican Sen. Ashley Moody won her own primary the same night. The two will meet in November for the seat Marco Rubio gave up.
Timeline
Florida holds its special primary election for the U.S. Senate seat.
The AP projects Moody as the Republican nominee, defeating her primary challengers. NBC News and the AP project Nixon as the Democratic nominee over Vindman.
Nixon and Moody face off in the general election. The winner serves out the six-year term Rubio was elected to, which runs through 2029.
Reactions
Coverage framed the result as an upset. Fox News reported Nixon won despite Vindman's advantages in name recognition and fundraising. The New York Times, cited by Political Wire, called it "the latest left-wing victory against establishment Democrats."
Right-leaning outlets led with Nixon's politics: the Washington Examiner described her as a socialist who toppled a "Trump whistleblower," and the Epoch Times headlined the general election as a Democratic Socialist against Moody.
On the Republican side, Fox News noted Moody was backed by Trump and framed her win as clearing a key hurdle to finishing Rubio's term.
What's Next
Vote counting continues, and the final margin in the Democratic primary may shift from the numbers reported when the race was called.
Nixon, a union organizer and sitting state lawmaker, now has roughly two and a half months to build a statewide general-election campaign against an incumbent senator in a state Republicans have carried repeatedly.
Moody, appointed to the seat after Rubio's departure, must defend it in November to keep serving through 2029.
More
Vindman's national profile came from the first Trump impeachment, where he served as a witness while working at the National Security Council. That profile, plus a fundraising edge, made him the establishment favorite — and made Nixon's win the story of the night in Florida.
The Center Square reported Moody was chosen by Florida Republicans as the party's nominee in Tuesday's special primary.
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