Florida Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon announced her candidacy Thursday for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Ashley Moody, citing what she called an affordability crisis that Florida’s leadership has ignored.
The race is part of a broader Democratic push in the 2026 midterm elections, when the party aims to flip four Senate seats to reclaim control of the chamber from Republicans, who currently hold a 53-to-47 majority.
Nixon said her campaign stems from conversations she had during a tour of the state in recent months. From Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike, she heard the same refrain: “We can’t afford to go on like this.”
Affordability at the Campaign’s Core
According to her campaign statement, rising costs cut across necessities. “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,” the statement said.
Nixon said politicians, including Moody, are not listening to residents’ concerns. “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. It’s time. Change can’t wait any longer.”
Democratic Gains in Florida
She pointed to the recent Miami mayoral race as evidence of shifting sentiment in the state. Democrat Eileen Higgins defeated Trump-backed Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager, in a race that was officially nonpartisan but where Higgins campaigned as a proud Democrat. It was the first time a Democrat won a Miami mayoral race in nearly 30 years.
Building a Political Record
Nixon represents a Jacksonville-area district and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020. She has been outspoken against the governor’s redistricting plan and sued the state after being denied access to the South Florida detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” She has also introduced legislation that would require ICE and other law enforcement agents to unmask and identify themselves on the job.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Nixon has served as executive director for Florida for All, a statewide coalition that has registered new voters across the state.