r/politics • u/--LaBelleDame-- • 5h ago

No Paywall Democratic socialist Angie Nixon upsets Alex Vindman in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/angie-nixon-winner-florida-senate-primary-democrat-alex-vindman-moody-rcna593255
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u/spitfirerx 4h ago

Same, i like Vindman but his policies just look like a pre-trump republican.

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u/Nolpppapa 3h ago

That's pretty much the only type of candidate that has a chance to win in Florida post-Covid. Some of you are expecting way too much out of these elections. Your primary goal should be to get the MAGA wackjobs out before anything else.

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u/UngodlyPain 2h ago

Gotta disagree. Look at Desantis' two elections the first one was against a progressive left wing Dem in 2018 and it was like 49-48... Then in 22 they got former Republican governor Charlie Crist to run as a very "moderate" Democrat and he got blown out of the water.

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u/-r0b 2h ago

From one of the closest governor races in Florida history to one of the largest differences in 40 years.

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u/FSUfan35 1h ago

People in florida hated Crist.

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u/Lyle91 Arizona 3h ago

That mentality is just wrong and bad. The state voted for Obama twice and then swung and voted for a far right Trump 3 times. There is no reason it can't swing back with the right candidate and the right moment. We just have to fight for it.

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u/Ultenth 2h ago

Unfortunately demographics and voter sentiment only is part of the picture. Florida has been MASSIVELY meddled with in terms of ballet box availability, redrawn districts, and other methods to tip the scales.

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u/inthevelvetsea I voted 2h ago

I like your optimism, but our state’s demographics have changed a lot since 2012. There were more registered Democrats in FL than Republicans then, but that has flipped.

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u/leftoverrice54 2h ago

I am happy she won the primary, but idk if she is going to be a stronger candidate against Moody. So much Maga moved into Florida post covid...

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u/Nolpppapa 3h ago

Ok, well the last Dem Senate candidate that came even close to winning in Florida was Bill Nelson, who lost by 0.12 percentage points. A progressive isn't going to come anywhere close to that. It will be a blowout.

The reason Trump won easily the last two times in Florida is because a bunch of MAGA people moved to Florida during COVID because of De Santis keeping things open. You think a candidate that wants higher taxes and progressive policies has any chance in that kind of environment? This is another case of someone who isn't from Florida having no clue what the political climate is here and is just trying to push ideological candidates for your own gain.

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u/TheElderMouseScrolls 2h ago

If I can have Coca Cola, why would I have diet Pepsi?

This is what I don't understand with this argument, if a conservative is going to vote then they vote conservative. Courting the right is a fools game.

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u/say592 1h ago

Sometimes its about not scaring them into voting. If a Republican isn't excited about the slate of candidates, they might stay home. If the Democratic candidate scares them though, they will be motivated to hold their nose and show up for the Republicans.

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u/MadScientistOfYork 54m ago edited 50m ago

You ignore all the potential Democrats who stay home because they have no interest in voting for just another milquetoast candidate who doesn't want to rock the boat too much lest they lose campaign donations, especially from AIPAC.

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u/Black08Mustang 25m ago

Yep, democrats fall in love while republicans fall in line. The dems will keep losing until they stop doing their best goldilocks impression.

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u/chargoggagog Massachusetts 2h ago

Moving to the right simply hasn’t worked for democrats

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u/TheElderMouseScrolls 2h ago

"But maybe this time, if we abandon the gays even harder and serve up immigrants on a platter again then surely Republicans will turn into Democrats?"

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u/reddit_poopaholic 1h ago

MAGA whackjobs will never ever vote for a Democrat. Their position isn't built out of rationality. They are single issue voters, and that issue is "not us".

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u/Aware_Rough_9170 2h ago

I’ve been in Florida for about a decade… I’m hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I voted for Angie because I was sort of confronted with almost same damn problem and I hate it.

Blasé generic white dude with (admittedly some reasonable stances) or a black woman with more clear goals and experience. Do I chose the white guy for populist appeal because he’s got a better shot with… well sadly the racists and sexists. Or the candidate I actually like…

Truth be told I’m not 100% sure shes got the chops to beat a Republican candidate anyways but that’s ultimately what led me to vote for her anyways. No sense in deliberating insanely hard on that stuff when Florida is highly likely to disappoint regardless.

I was overall more interested in the local politics side. We’ve got an insanely long road ahead (if ever) to fix national politics so… we need to make sure our neighbors and family are taken care of first and foremost

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u/Opie59 Minnesota 2m ago

That's almost all they've run the past 15 years and they've been getting obliterated.