Moody Holds Florida Senate Seat
The Republican incumbent defeated Democrat Angie Nixon in the special election for Marco Rubio's vacated seat.
By Amina Howard ·
Florida Sen. Ashley Moody won the special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Marco Rubio. The Republican incumbent defeated Democrat Angie Nixon in a race that projected Moody as the winner.
Moody leveraged a substantial financial lead to dominate advertising in a state with 23 million residents. Campaign observers noted that high airfare costs make media saturation essential for victory in Florida. This spending advantage allowed Moody to maintain a consistent presence despite Nixon's ground game.
Nixon, a Democratic Socialist of America aligned candidate, had surprised the political establishment by winning the Democratic primary. Her victory drew national attention from progressives and positioned her as a potential break for Democrats in a state where the party has not won a Senate race since 2012. However, she faced a funding gap throughout the general election cycle.
The campaign featured contrasting strategies. Moody ran a traditional Republican operation while Nixon conducted extensive in-person events and appeared on center-left podcasts. Democrats criticized Moody for avoiding debates and limiting public appearances. Nikki Fried, the Florida Democratic Party chair, urged Moody to engage voters directly during an October news conference in Tallahassee.
Moody’s campaign focused on Nixon’s political alignment, arguing she was too liberal for a state now containing 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats. Attack ads highlighted policies associated with the DSA, such as abolishing police, a position Nixon said she does not support. Moody also faced questions about her role in the Hope Florida Medicaid settlement, though she denied wrongdoing after a grand jury review.
Moody will serve the remaining two years of the term Rubio won in 2022. The seat will return to the ballot in 2028 for a full term. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Moody to the position after Rubio joined President Trump’s Cabinet. This marks Moody’s first election for the Senate, following two previous victories as Florida attorney general.
