Florida Senate: Moody defeats Nixon in special election

CBS News projects that Ashley Moody has defeated Angie Nixon in the Florida special Senate election.

Moody, 51, secured the seat previously held by Marco Rubio. She was appointed to the position last year following Rubio’s departure to become Secretary of State. Her legal background includes service as Florida’s attorney general, a federal prosecutor, and a commercial litigator.

Nixon, 42, has represented parts of the Jacksonville area in the Florida Statehouse since 2020. She entered the race as a democratic socialist after winning a primary upset against a more moderate Democrat. That primary result reflected a wider trend of progressive-left candidates winning nominations this cycle. However, general election dynamics in Florida often diverge from primary outcomes.

The state, which President Trump won by 13 points in 2024, has shifted decisively toward the Republican party. Campaign observers noted that Nixon’s socialist label may have appealed less to immigrant populations who left socialist governments. Nixon pushed back against that criticism while maintaining her focus on healthcare and housing affordability.

With the projected win, Moody will serve out the remainder of the term. That period concludes in early 2029.