Moody Defeats Nixon to Retain Rubio's Florida Senate Seat
The Republican incumbent secured the position with a substantial advertising advantage, ending a race that drew national attention after the Democratic nominee's primary upset.
By Robert Ward ·
Florida’s U.S. Senate race concluded on Tuesday with Republican Ashley Moody defeating Democrat Angie Nixon. NBC News projected the result, confirming Moody’s hold on the seat previously occupied by Marco Rubio. The victory extends the Republican Party’s control of the position, which remains on the ballot for a full term in 2028. Moody will serve the remaining two years of the term Rubio won in 2022.
The contest began with an unexpected shift when Nixon, a candidate aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, won the Democratic primary. Her primary victory generated national interest among progressives and positioned her as a potential breakthrough candidate in a state where Democrats had not won a Senate race since 2012. Moody, however, maintained her status as the favorite throughout the general election cycle. She benefited from a substantial fundraising edge that allowed her to dominate the media market in a state with 23 million residents, where high advertising costs are considered a critical factor for success.
Nixon focused her campaign on high-volume public events and appearances on center-left podcasts, aiming to build a grassroots base. In contrast, Moody pursued a traditional strategy centered on paid media. This approach drew criticism from Democrats who argued the incumbent avoided direct engagement. Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried spoke at an October news conference in Tallahassee, urging Moody to stop hiding behind attacks. Fried said, “Stop hiding behind attacks. Show up and talk to the people you work for, because Ashley Moody is asking Floridians for their vote, and if she won’t answer their questions, they’ll give her their answer in November.” The event featured a sign reading “Where is Ashley Moody?”
Moody also navigated scrutiny regarding her role in the Hope Florida scandal. As state attorney general, she signed off on a $10 million Medicaid settlement directed to a charity linked to former First Lady Casey DeSantis. Funds from that settlement were later used by a political committee to oppose a 2024 ballot measure for recreational marijuana. Moody has denied wrongdoing, and a state prosecutor’s grand jury review resulted in no charges being brought against her.
The campaign’s central theme for Moody was Nixon’s ideological positioning. Moody’s ads emphasized policies associated with the DSA, such as abolishing the police, which Nixon said she does not support. The messaging highlighted the state’s recent demographic shift, noting that Florida now has 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats, a reversal of the Democratic advantage that persisted for decades. Nixon publicly distanced herself from some DSA proposals but remained a target for these advertisements.
Moody had previously won two statewide elections as attorney general before entering this race. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed her to the Senate seat after Rubio was selected for President Trump’s Cabinet. Nixon’s defeat ends her run for the seat, while Moody continues her service in Washington.
