Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon has pulled off a major upset, defeating former national security official Alex Vindman in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, according to projections from NBC News and the Associated Press.
Nixon, a Jacksonville progressive and former union organizer, won roughly 55% to 56% of the vote, compared with Vindman’s 44% to 45%, with nearly all ballots counted.
The victory puts Nixon in position to face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in the November general election for the Senate seat previously held by Marco Rubio, who left the Senate to become U.S. secretary of state.
The result marks one of the biggest underdog victories in recent Florida Democratic politics. Vindman entered the race with a significant financial and political advantage. The retired Army lieutenant colonel and key witness in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial raised more than $16 million, compared with roughly $975,000 for Nixon.
Despite being dramatically outspent, Nixon built her campaign around grassroots organizing, labor support and affordability issues. Her platform included universal childcare, Medicare for All, paid family and sick leave, major investments in affordable housing and a national rent freeze, with funding proposals centered on higher taxes on billionaires and closing corporate tax loopholes.
Her campaign also gained support from progressive members of Congress, including Maxwell Frost, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley. Nixon did not receive endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Nixon, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has become known for her outspoken and confrontational style in the Florida Legislature. Her primary victory now gives Florida Democrats a candidate who successfully mobilized a grassroots coalition despite facing a major fundraising disadvantage.
“We have proved that everyday people are more powerful than corporations and billionaires,” Nixon told supporters on election night. “We went up against the political establishment, against millions of dollars of outside spending, we were outspent 16 to 1, and we won. This win was for the little guys and girls.”
Nixon now turns her attention to November, where she will face Moody in a statewide race that could draw significant national attention. Her victory over Vindman has already demonstrated the strength of her grassroots campaign—but winning statewide in Florida will present a much different challenge.
Add Comment