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Democratic State Rep. Angie Nixon Launches 2026 Senate Bid Against Ashley Moody in Florida
Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon announced Thursday she will challenge Republican Sen. Ashley Moody for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat in 2026, framing her campaign around economic affordability issues that she says have been neglected by the state’s leadership.
Nixon, who represents Jacksonville in the Florida House, cited skyrocketing costs of living as her primary motivation for entering the race. “We’re facing an affordability crisis that Florida’s leadership has ignored for far too long,” Nixon said in her announcement from Fort Lauderdale.
Moody currently holds the Senate seat after being appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to complete Marco Rubio’s term when he joined President Donald Trump’s second administration as secretary of state. As Florida’s former attorney general, Moody brings significant name recognition and established Republican credentials to her first Senate race.
During recent travels across Florida, Nixon says she consistently heard concerns about economic pressures from voters across the political spectrum. “We can’t afford to go on like this,” Nixon quoted residents as telling her, adding that politicians, including Moody, have failed to address these concerns.
“The cost of everything is exploding: groceries, healthcare, and childcare. Property insurance has doubled in the last four years, and housing costs are driving Floridians out of the towns they grew up in,” Nixon said in her statement.
The 2026 race will be a crucial battleground as Democrats seek to regain control of the Senate. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 advantage, meaning Democrats would need to flip four seats while defending their incumbents to secure a majority—a difficult but increasingly plausible scenario as the party’s prospects for the 2026 midterms improve.
Florida has trended increasingly Republican in recent years, with the GOP controlling the governor’s office, both legislative chambers, and most statewide offices. However, Nixon pointed to Democratic Mayor Eileen Higgins’ recent victory in Miami as evidence that political shifts are underway. Higgins defeated Trump-backed candidate Emilio Gonzalez in what was officially a nonpartisan race but marked the first Democratic mayoral win in Miami in nearly three decades.
“People are fed up. Everyone, not just Democrats,” Nixon said. “The Miami mayoral race is only one of the signs that a big shift is coming. People want leaders who will actually fight for them rather than fight each other on TV.”
Nixon brings legislative experience and progressive credentials to the race. First elected to the Florida House in 2020, she has established herself as an outspoken critic of DeSantis’ policies, particularly on redistricting. She sued the state after being denied access to a South Florida immigration detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” and has introduced legislation requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to identify themselves while on duty.
Prior to her legislative career, Nixon served as executive director for Florida for All, a coalition focused on voter registration throughout the state. She is a 2007 graduate of the University of Florida.
The 2026 Senate race is expected to attract national attention and significant campaign funding as both parties view Florida as strategically important. While Republicans have dominated recent statewide elections, Democrats hope economic concerns and changing demographics could create an opening for Nixon’s candidacy.
Political analysts note that Nixon will face considerable challenges in a state where Republicans have built a substantial voter registration advantage and where Trump won decisively in 2020 and 2024. However, midterm elections historically favor the party not controlling the White House, potentially giving Nixon and other Democratic candidates a more favorable environment in 2026.
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10 Comments
With the rising cost of living a major concern, Rep. Nixon’s focus on affordability could prove to be a savvy campaign strategy. Voters will likely be looking for solutions to these economic pressures.
It will be interesting to see how Sen. Moody responds to Nixon’s emphasis on these pocketbook issues.
Floridians are no doubt feeling the squeeze of high prices and economic uncertainty. This Senate race could hinge on which candidate best resonates with voters’ financial concerns.
While party affiliation will be a factor, the candidate who can most effectively address Floridians’ economic anxieties may have the edge in this race. Voters will be looking for real solutions, not just rhetoric.
Curious to see how the campaigns frame their economic policy proposals and which ones gain traction with the electorate.
The 2026 Florida Senate race is sure to be closely watched, given the state’s political significance. This challenge by a Democratic state representative against a Republican incumbent will be an important one to follow.
An interesting political matchup in Florida. Affordability issues seem to be a key focus for the challenger, Rep. Angie Nixon. It will be important to see how she articulates her platform and how voters respond.
Cost of living is certainly a major concern for many Floridians. It will be worth following how the candidates propose to address these economic pressures.
As a Republican incumbent, Sen. Ashley Moody brings name recognition and party credentials to this race. But the affordability crisis cited by Rep. Nixon may resonate with voters regardless of party affiliation.
Curious to see how Moody positions herself on these pocketbook issues that seem to be animating the electorate.