Overview
- Nixon defeated Alexander Vindman by about 12 points in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, securing the party’s Senate nomination in a race now set against Republican Sen. Ashley Moody.
- She joined the Democratic Socialists of America earlier this year but has publicly said she is not a socialist and joined over specific policy fights such as housing and Medicare for All.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Nixon and campaigned with her, drawing national progressive attention even as the DSA’s national leaders reportedly did not formally back her primary bid.
- Republicans and their committees are centering Nixon’s DSA ties in early messaging, citing her stances on ICE, universal health care and childcare as vulnerabilities, and forecasters have moved the seat toward the GOP.
- A heated phone call with Florida Democratic chair Nikki Fried and other coordination frictions have highlighted intraparty disagreement about messaging, donor support and whether to invest scarce Democratic resources in the race this fall.