Angie Nixon: Democrat Angie Nixon defeats Alexander Vindman in surprise Florida Senate primary upset

File photo: Democratic socialist Angie Nixon (right) and former national security official Alexander Vindman

Democratic socialist Angie Nixon scored a surprise victory in Florida’s Democratic primary for the US Senate on Tuesday, defeating retired Army officer and former national security official Alexander Vindman, according to projections by media outlets cited by Reuters.Nixon, a Florida state legislator since 2020, will now face Republican Senator Ashley Moody in the November general election for the final two years of former Senator Marco Rubio’s term. Rubio left the Senate after becoming US secretary of state under President Donald Trump.The result was a notable upset for Nixon, who was heavily outspent by Vindman and emerged from a primary in which the former Army officer had significant name recognition from his role in Trump’s first impeachment.Vindman testified before Congress in 2019 about a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. After his defeat, Vindman said on social media, “Rep. Nixon ran a strong campaign. I will be standing by her side in the fight against Ashley Moody. I hope you’ll join me.”Meanwhile, Trump took a jibe at Vindman and wrote on Truth Social, “SleazeBag Vindman loses tonight to a Radical Left Lunatic. How cool is that???”.

Nixon backed by progressives, faces tough November race

Nixon, 42, has been active in Florida’s labour movement and has positioned herself as a progressive candidate. She was backed by prominent progressives, including Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.She also attracted attention earlier this year after being reprimanded for disrupting a vote in the Florida House while protesting congressional redistricting legislation with a pink megaphone. During her campaign, she urged supporters to “make sure you wear your pink to the polls.”If elected, Nixon would become Florida’s first Black US senator.However, the November contest is expected to be difficult for Democrats. Nonpartisan analysts favour Moody, who was appointed to Rubio’s Senate seat by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis after Rubio became secretary of state.Florida has shifted sharply to the right in recent elections. Trump won the state by 13 percentage points in 2024, while Democrats have not elected a US senator from Florida since 2012.

Donalds, Jolly win governor primaries

The Senate primary was part of a broader set of Florida contests that will determine the state’s political direction in November.Republican Representative Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for governor, while former Republican Congressman David Jolly won the Democratic nomination, according to the Associated Press.Donalds, who has Trump’s backing, would become Florida’s first Black governor if he wins in November. He defeated former Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, political newcomer James Fishback and other Republican contenders.“The primary is over,” Donalds told supporters after his victory. “Tonight we put aside our differences. Tonight we are one united Republican Party.”Jolly switched from the Republican Party to the Democrats last year and has sought to present himself as a centrist candidate.He said his approach would combine elements of both parties, including support for capitalism and limited government alongside greater government involvement in areas such as education and housing.The November election will also test Trump’s influence in his adopted home state and Democrats’ efforts to make Florida competitive again.

Redistricting reshapes Florida House races

Several congressional races were also decided in Tuesday’s primaries after Florida adopted new congressional maps designed to strengthen Republican prospects.Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz was projected to win his primary in the 25th Congressional District and will face Republican Scott Singer in November.Longtime Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz also won her party’s nomination in a redrawn South Florida district with a plurality-Black electorate.Her candidacy had drawn criticism from activists and Democratic challengers who argued that the historically Black district should be represented by a Black lawmaker.On the Republican side, state Representative Mike Beltran was projected to win the nomination to challenge Democratic Representative Kathy Castor in a district redrawn to favour Republicans.Florida’s new map could leave the state with a congressional delegation of 24 Republicans and just four Democrats, according to Reuters.Republican Representative Cory Mills also lost his primary to former television news anchor Ryan Elijah. Mills has denied allegations of campaign-finance violations and sexual misconduct that are being examined by the House Ethics Committee.The results underline the uphill task facing Florida Democrats: while Nixon’s upset has given the party an unexpected boost in the Senate race, Republicans remain strongly favoured across much of the state’s political landscape heading into November.