State Rep. Angie Nixon. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Published on April 27, 2026 at 9:40 am
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Jacksonville Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon qualified Friday to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Ashley Moody.
It sets up a Democratic primary with Alex Vindman, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant who played a key role in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment in 2019.
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Nixon was first elected to the state House in 2020. She announced in January plans to run against Moody, who was appointed to the office last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In a release in January, Nixon criticized Moody for “chasing headlines and playing into the culture wars that have nothing to do with daily reality.”
“I’ve been working for the real people of Florida,” Nixon said in the statement. “Floridians didn’t elect Moody to the Senate, she was handed the seat. I know what it is to struggle. I know what it is to fight for everything you have. Moody doesn’t.”
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The Republican Party of Florida has described Nixon as a “far-left agitator.”
Moody, twice elected Florida’s attorney general, paid the qualifying fee on Thursday and will also have to go through the primary process. Republicans Neelam Taneja Perry of St. Petersburg, Chris Gleason of Largo and Ernest “Ernie” Rivera” of Temple Terrace also paid the qualifying fee.
Also qualifying for the office is Neil Gillespie of Ocala, running without a party affiliation. The qualifying fee to run as an independent is $6,960. Gillespie has also opened a campaign account for the 2028 U.S. Presidential contest.
