Ashley Moody has defeated Democrat Angie Nixon in Florida’s special Senate election, securing another victory for the Republican Party in the state. The result gives Republicans control of the seat once held by Marco Rubio and deals a setback to Democrats seeking to rebuild their support in Florida.
Moody, a Republican senator appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, was widely seen as the favorite before election day. Nixon entered the race with growing national attention after winning an unexpected victory in the Democratic primary. However, her campaign faced a major challenge due to a large gap in fundraising.
The special election was held to fill the final two years of Rubio’s Senate term. Rubio won the seat in 2022 before leaving the Senate to join President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Moody will now serve the rest of that term. Voters will choose a senator for a full term in 2028.
Nixon’s primary victory brought fresh interest to a race that had seemed likely to favor Republicans. Her campaign gained support from progressives across the country. Many Democrats hoped she could help the party become more competitive in Florida, a state where Republicans have gained ground in recent years.
Democrats have not won a Senate election in Florida since 2012. Still, Nixon’s strong primary result raised hopes that a new candidate could attract voters who had moved away from the party. Her campaign also drew attention because of her links to progressive groups and her criticism of Republican policies.
But the national interest did not close the gap between the two candidates. Moody had far more campaign money and used it to run a large advertising campaign across Florida. With a population of about 23 million, the state has a costly media market. Candidates need major funds to reach voters in different regions.
Moody’s campaign followed a familiar Republican approach. Her main message was that Nixon was too liberal for Florida. She also pointed to the state’s voter registration figures. Republicans now have about 1.5 million more registered voters than Democrats. This is a major change from earlier years, when Democrats held the advantage.
Several Moody campaign ads focused on the Democratic Socialists of America. Nixon had attracted support from people linked to the group, but she later tried to distance herself from some of its views.
One advertisement described Nixon as a socialist. It also linked her to calls to abolish police departments. Nixon rejected that claim and said she did not support ending the police. Moody’s team continued to use the issue to question whether Nixon’s views matched those of Florida voters.
Moody also faced criticism during the campaign. Her opponents raised questions about her role in the Hope Florida case. The matter involved $10 million from a Medicaid settlement that went to a charity linked to Casey DeSantis, Florida’s first lady.
A political committee later used the money to oppose a 2024 ballot measure that sought to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. Moody was the state’s attorney general at the time and had approved the deal.
She denied any wrongdoing. A state prosecutor later formed a grand jury to review the case, but no criminal charges were filed against her.
Nixon tried to make Moody’s limited public appearances another major campaign issue. Moody declined to take part in a debate and held fewer public events than her rival. Nixon, meanwhile, traveled across Florida to meet voters and speak at campaign events.
She also became a regular guest on state media and center-left podcasts. Her campaign argued that voters deserved direct answers from the Republican senator.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried also attacked Moody over her decision to avoid a debate. At a news conference in Tallahassee, Fried urged her to meet voters and answer their questions. Democrats displayed a sign that read, “Where is Ashley Moody?”
Fried said Moody should learn from Nixon’s willingness to speak with the public. She argued that campaign attacks were not enough and that voters wanted to hear directly from the person asking for their support.
However, these attacks did not appear to weaken Moody’s position enough to change the outcome. Her strong financial support, Republican backing and message against Nixon’s political views helped her maintain an advantage throughout the race.
The result also marks an important step in Moody’s political career. She had already won two statewide elections for attorney general, but this was her first Senate election. Her victory now gives her a chance to build a record in Washington before facing voters again.
For Republicans, the result protects a key Senate seat in a state that has moved further to the right. For Democrats, Nixon’s defeat shows how difficult it remains to turn growing support among progressive voters into a statewide victory.
The next major test will come in 2028, when the seat will be open for a full term. Until then, Moody’s victory keeps the Republican hold on Florida’s Senate seat firmly in place.
