The state legislator Angie Nixon made a major surprise in the Democratic primary on Tuesday in Florida by defeating retired Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman, who was favored to be the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Marco Rubio.
Nixon, the state representative for District 13 since 2020, received 56% of the votes compared to 44% for his opponent.
The outcome was unanimously deemed an unexpected turnaround: Vindman, former Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council and a key witness in the first impeachment trial against Donald Trump in 2019, had raised nearly $19.3 million for his campaign.
Nixon, on the other hand, competed with minimal resources—he didn't even reach a million—and challenged his rival from the left of the Party. He urged him to debate several times, but he never accepted. The Democratic leaders themselves had warned that Vindman could be overconfident, and that warning proved prophetic.
Money is not the only important thing to win
With extensive experience as a union organizer, the newly elected winner managed to win the support of both progressive voters and moderates, primarily using social media to inform them about her campaign platform.
Over the weekend, he traveled to South Florida and walked along Calle Ocho in Little Havana seeking the Cuban vote. The strategy paid off: he defeated Vindman in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, where the majority of the Cuban-American community is concentrated.
After confirming his victory, he expressed that "the voters of Florida were fed up" and "made it clear that they want someone who will fight for changes that truly improve their lives, such as lowering costs, raising wages, universal healthcare, and a citizen-centered government that prioritizes families."
Angela Nixon was born on February 27, 1984, in Jacksonville. She graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School and earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Florida in 2007.
His Senate campaign focused on the cost of living, affordable housing, universal healthcare and childcare, and the expansion of social programs.
It is contrary to the policies of Ron DeSantis. In May, she participated in a sit-in at the governor's office in protest of the new design of the electoral districts imposed by the Republicans, who control the Florida legislature. For that demonstration, she was charged with misdemeanors for trespassing and resisting authority.
She has also been very critical of the foreign policy of the Trump administration.
The progressive profile of Nixon, who joined the Democratic Socialists of America in June, complicates the strategy for the Democrats in a state that has strongly shifted towards the Republicans.
She has declared herself against communism and any form of authoritarianism.
Regarding the issue of Cuba, he has called the embargo a "failure" and has advocated for reinstating the outreach policy of former President Barack Obama.
On November 3, she will compete with Republican Senator Ashley Moody to determine who will complete the initial term of Marco Rubio until January 2029.
Moody was appointed interim senator by DeSantis in January 2025 to replace Rubio, who resigned to take up the role of Secretary of State.
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