Angie Nixon, the Democratic candidate for the Florida Senate, stated in exclusive statements to CiberCuba that "Cuba is absolutely a dictatorship," and rejected any homage to Fidel Castro, comparing him to Donald Trump by noting that she does not support "celebrating the authoritarian ruler in Washington."
The statements come two days after an ambiguous response on CBS News — "That’s what I’ve been told. I’ve never been to Cuba, so I’ll have to take their word for it" — triggered a wave of bipartisan criticism that forced the network itself to remove its initial post and republish it with an editorial note acknowledging that the first version "did not accurately reflect" Nixon's response.
In the interview with CiberCuba, Nixon was emphatic in clarifying her position regarding the Cuban regime: "I reject dictatorship and authoritarianism of any kind, whether in Cuba, Venezuela, or here in the United States."
He also distanced himself from the statement issued by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on July 11, 2021, during the protests in Cuba, which expressed solidarity with the Cuban "revolution" without condemning state repression. "No, I do not support those statements. My solidarity will always be with those who suffer and demand their rights," he stated.
Regarding the responsibility for the crisis on the island, Nixon pointed to the regime as the main culprit: "The regime is responsible for the current situation, including the economic crisis, although the U.S. embargo has contributed to making things more difficult."
The candidate also responded to the accusations of being a communist and socialist made by Trump, Republican Senator Ashley Moody, and the Florida Republican Party. "I am not a communist, I am not a socialist. When asked if I believe in capitalism, my answer is simple: I own a small business," she stated.
Nixon went further and turned the accusations against his opponents: "I have many more doubts about someone's communist inclinations who gets close to Delcy Rodríguez, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and the leader of China. And that is Donald Trump."
The Democrat Phil Ehr, candidate for the House in Florida's 28th district, refused to defend Nixon following the controversy on CBS and stated that “Cuba is a communist dictatorship and any Senate candidate should be able to say that without hesitation.”
The contest will take place on November 3, 2026 to fill the vacant seat left by Marco Rubio upon being appointed Secretary of State. A poll by NBC Miami conducted in mid-October showed Moody at 51% compared to Nixon's 42% statewide, although among Latino voters the difference narrowed to one point: 45% for Nixon and 44% for Moody.
Nixon also dedicated part of the interview to the situation of deported Cubans and those waiting in a migratory limbo with the I-220A form. He referred to Trump as the "deporter-in-chief of Cubans" and promised that if he reaches the Senate, he will promote the legalization of these Cubans under the Cuban Adjustment Act. "We cannot continue to terrorize the victims of authoritarian governments who arrived in our country seeking refuge," he concluded.
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