Florida Senate: Moody defeats Nixon to secure GOP hold

CBS News projected Tuesday that Ashley Moody defeated Angie Nixon in the Florida Senate race, keeping the seat under Republican control. The result confirms Moody's win in the special election held to fill a vacancy left by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Moody, 51, was appointed to the position last year after serving as Florida's attorney general. Prior to her time as the state's top law enforcement officer, she worked as a commercial litigator and federal prosecutor.

Nixon, 42, had represented portions of the Jacksonville area in the Florida Statehouse since 2020. The democratic socialist candidate won the primary in an upset against a more moderate opponent. Her victory was part of a wider trend of progressive-left wins in the primary contests this cycle. However, the general election dynamics in Florida presented a different challenge for the Democratic Party.

Florida has shifted from a purple state to a predominantly red one. President Trump carried the state by 13 points in the 2024 presidential election. Nixon faced opposition from voters who focused on her socialist label. Some of her opponents argued that this identity could alienate immigrant populations in the state who have fled socialist governments.

Nixon pushed back against that criticism during the campaign. She emphasized her commitment to specific policy goals, including healthcare and housing affordability. Moody will now serve out the remainder of Rubio's term. That term is scheduled to end in early 2029.

The election outcome reflects the continued Republican strength in the Sunshine State. Moody's appointment and subsequent victory maintain the party's grip on the Florida Senate seat. Nixon's run highlighted the internal tensions within the Democratic Party between progressive and moderate wings during the midterm cycle.