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Republican Ashley Moody defeats progressive Angie Nixon in Florida Senate race
Republican Ashley Moody defeated Democratic socialist Angie Nixon in Florida’s special US Senate election, retaining a seat she had held since being appointed in January 2025. The race mattered as a test of whether Florida remains reliably Republican after Democrats’ decade without statewide wins.
Moody will serve the rest of Marco Rubio’s term, until the 2028 election. Pre-election polling gave her a narrow lead; Nixon received campaign support from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and focused on affordability and alleged political corruption, including a $10m Medicaid payment diverted to political committees. Moody attacked Nixon as a socialist and backed Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
In short
- Ashley Moody won Florida’s special Senate election.
- She will serve until the 2028 election.
- The result tested Florida’s Republican strength.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Moody’s victory can be seen as evidence that Florida voters prefer her experience and Republican approach, including support for Trump’s immigration policies, to Nixon’s proposals. Her supporters may argue that retaining the seat provides continuity and reflects scepticism about a progressive platform they regard as too far-reaching.
The case against
Nixon’s supporters may argue that her focus on affordability and alleged corruption addressed voters’ immediate concerns, and that campaign backing from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez reflected a broader push for change. They may see Moody’s win as preserving a political status quo despite questions about public money and a close pre-election contest.
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