Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon brought her campaign message to Washington, D.C. last Friday, highlighting affordability and Black empowerment as she builds support ahead of November’s special election.
Nixon spoke at Urban Garden Brewhouse, described as the first brewery in the Capitol owned by a Black woman. The event featured live music, a question-and-answer session and remarks from Florida state Rep. RaShon Young.
Nixon focused on the cost of living and the importance of Black empowerment, saying she believes the past does not represent an acceptable standard for all Americans.
“Right now we have a guy in the White House saying he wants to make America great again and bring us back to the good old days, but y’all know the good old days were not good enough for all of us,” Nixon said.
Nixon will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November to fill the remainder of former Sen. Marco Rubio’s term.
A recent St. Pete Polls survey showed Moody with 45.2% support and Nixon with 44.8%, while 7% of respondents were undecided.
Florida has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Bill Nelson won reelection in 2012.
Still, University of Miami political science professor Gregory Koger said Nixon’s ability to build a coalition could be an important part of the race.
“I don’t write her off as a general candidate, general election candidate either,” Koger said. “Her ability to energize people, to build a coalition, to reach out to and get other people to work and volunteer on her behalf should not be underestimated.”
Koger also pointed to controversy surrounding Moody’s role in a 2024 Medicaid settlement as a potential issue in the race.
The state agreed to divert $10 million from the settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation. A state grand jury later criticized Moody’s role in the deal, saying she knew about the plan and authorized her chief deputy to sign the final agreement.
Moody said in a post on X that her office had no knowledge of how the money would be spent.
Florida voters will choose between Nixon and Moody in the U.S. Senate special election Nov. 3. If elected, Nixon would become Florida’s first Black U.S. senator.
