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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s Democratic voters picked a socialist candidate for U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s primary, advancing state Rep. Angie Nixon, who wants to close prisons and calls drag shows “wholesome entertainment” suitable for children.
Ms. Nixon’s victory in the primary was a stunning upset over her well-funded Democratic opponent, Alex Vindman, who rose to national prominence in 2019 when he testified against President Trump during the first of his two impeachment trials.
Mr. Trump savored Mr. Vindman’s defeat on social media.
Tuesday’s results in Florida notched another victory for a growing army of socialists across the nation in the 2026 elections. Candidates touting socialist agendas have secured primary wins in Michigan, the District, New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado by honing in on voter anger and frustration about the rising cost of living and promising free healthcare, free daycare and rent freezes.
Ms. Nixon’s win was nonetheless shocking in a state where Democrats are a shrinking percentage of the electorate and where the state’s Gov. Ron DeSantis has governed as a solid conservative and remains popular among voters.
Mr. Vindman was endorsed by Senate Democrats, among them Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.
Ms. Nixon secured endorsements from far-left U.S. House Squad members Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.
Ms. Nixon beat Mr. Vindman despite his campaign’s massive financial advantage. She raised under $1 million and spent about $700,000.
Mr. Vindman, who moved to Florida in 2023 and ran as an anti-Trump crusader, raised $16 million and spent $9 million trying to win the Senate primary.
Regardless, Ms. Nixon routed Mr. Vindman, 56% to 44%
“We did it. We won this primary without taking a dime of corporate PAC money. No corporate checks. No billionaire-funded machine. Just a 100% grassroots campaign powered by people like you,” Ms. Nixon told her supporters on Wednesday.
She said she recently joined the Democratic Socialists of America and is running on making life more affordable for working people.
Source: Read the original article on www.washingtontimes.com
