MIAMI — Senator Bernie Sanders has thrown his support behind Democrat Angie Nixon for the Senate. Nixon achieved an unexpected victory in Florida, a state known for its Republican leanings, and will face GOP Senator Ashley Moody, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, in November.
In his endorsement statement on Thursday, Sanders remarked, “Angie’s campaign demonstrates that Democratic voters are searching for candidates who will champion their causes and challenge the greed of the billionaire class. This represents the future of the Democratic Party. Although Florida is often regarded as a red state, I disagree. Across red states, blue states, the North, and the South, people are weary of traditional politics and policies. They are demanding change, real change.”
Sanders is the latest progressive figure to endorse Nixon, a state legislator and union organizer from Jacksonville. Before the primary, she had already secured support from Democratic Representatives Maxwell Frost of Florida, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. Sanders had previously indicated to the Wall Street Journal his intention to endorse Nixon.
On Tuesday, Nixon secured the Democratic nomination for the Senate by a 12-point margin over her well-funded rival, retired Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, a recent arrival in Florida known for his role in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment. Nixon’s campaign reported raising $1 million within 48 hours of the primary.
Nixon ran on a progressive platform and joined the Democratic Socialists of America in June, though she has been cautious with her terminology in describing her positions. Sanders, a prominent figure in the American progressive movement, identifies as a democratic socialist but is not a DSA member. His endorsements have generally been successful, despite the faltering of Graham Platner’s campaign in Maine.
Nixon has faced criticism from both her party and Republicans for her stances on Israel and other issues aligned with Democratic socialist policies. Florida has a significant Republican voter registration advantage, with 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats, and includes many Latino voters who have fled leftist regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. However, her supporters argue she can energize Black voters and the party’s base and that she has the skills to organize and engage crowds effectively.
Nixon faces a formidable challenge against Moody, who reported $14 million in her campaign and political committee funds midway through the year. In contrast, Nixon reported less than $1 million in her primary campaign.
During her primary, Moody held few campaign events and avoided most media interviews or spontaneous interactions with reporters on Capitol Hill, leaving voters with limited understanding of her positions. She criticized Nixon in Fox News interviews, and her campaign circulated a fundraising email denouncing Nixon’s views. In a post on X Thursday, Moody accused Nixon and other progressives of “attempting to ignite the country from within.”
Moody received nearly 1.3 million votes on primary night, while the combined votes for Nixon and Vindman were approximately the same. An estimated 300,000 voters supported other GOP candidates, highlighting the Republican voter advantage.
Sanders lauded the voters who supported Nixon, stating she demonstrated that “organized people can confront the organized money of the affluent and powerful — and succeed.” He also highlighted her strong support among Black voters, young voters, individuals without a college degree, and in some rural areas. “Her extensive experience as an organizer allowed her to build a robust grassroots campaign — a rainbow coalition of labor and community groups,” Sanders noted.
Nixon mentioned her agreement with Sanders on issues such as “Medicare for All, affordable childcare, housing that is truly affordable, and an economy where everyone can live with dignity.”
