Washington — GOP Sen. Ashley Moody and Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon will face off in November after winning their primaries for U.S. Senate on Tuesday night, The Associated Press projects.
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Press → face → night
Moody defeated a handful of lesser-known Republicans to secure the GOP nomination Tuesday as she fights to hold onto the seat she was appointed to fill last year.
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she → defeat → seat
But Democrats are eyeing a long-shot pickup opportunity in the Sunshine State in their effort to flip control of the Senate.
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Democrats → eye → Senate
Nixon, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated Alex Vindman, a National Security Council whistleblower who testified in President Trump's first impeachment trial, in Tuesday's primary.
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who → defeat → primary
The win marks the latest example of an insurgent Democrat pulling off a victory in the primary over a more moderate opponent with a significant cash advantage.
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Democrat → mark → advantage
It's a dynamic that has defined the midterm elections so far, cropping up in races from New York City to Colorado to Michigan.
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that → define → Michigan
"Rep. Nixon ran a strong campaign.
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Nixon → run → campaign
I will be standing by her side in the fight against Ashley Moody.
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I → stand → Moody
I hope you'll join me," Vindman said in a statement Tuesday night.
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Vindman → hope → statement
In the primary, Nixon, 42, leaned on her deep roots in the state and ran on progressive policies like Medicare for All, free childcare, paid family and sick leave and a national rent freeze, while highlighting her background as a champion for working and middle-class Floridians.
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Nixon → lean → Floridians
She's represented portions of the Jacksonville area in the Florida statehouse since 2020.
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She → represent → 2020
"Like in many parts of the country, Florida voters were fed up," Nixon said in a statement Tuesday night.
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Nixon → feed → statement
"They made it clear that they want someone who will fight for the change that actually helps their lives such as lower costs, higher wages, Medicare for All, and a people-powered government that prioritizes families.
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that → make → families
"
"Winning the primary was only the beginning," Nixon added.
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Nixon → win → primary
"We have 77 days to flip Florida blue, win this Senate seat, and help take back the U.S. Senate.
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We → have → Senate
And we cannot waste a single one.
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we → waste → one
They tried to stop us.
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They → try → us
We won anyway.
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We → win → ?
Now, we're coming for the U.S. Senate."
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we → come → Senate
Meanwhile, a handful of Republicans, including Army veteran Chris Gleason, physician Neelam Perry and minister Ernie Rivera, had been vying for the GOP nomination.
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handful → include → nomination
But Moody, a former Florida attorney general, secured the nomination, billing herself as a fifth-generation Floridian with a track record of backing law enforcement and fighting for safer communities.
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Moody → secure → communities
The Florida Republican, 51, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Congress' upper chamber.
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Republican → appoint → chamber
Now, she's aiming to win the special election to serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in early 2029.
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which → aim → 2029
Moody served as Florida's attorney general from 2019 until her appointment to the Senate in January 2025.
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Moody → serve → January
Before that, she worked as a commercial litigator and federal prosecutor, and became Florida's youngest circuit court judge in 2007.
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she → work → 2007
In the Senate, she's been a reliable supporter of Mr. Trump's agenda, and received his endorsement last month.
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she → receive → endorsement
Ahead of the primary, Mr. Trump said she's "doing a tremendous job representing the incredible people of Florida."
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she → say → Florida
With the primary victories, attention now turns to November's general election.
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attention → turn → election
Democrats have been hoping to make inroads in Florida, despite the formerly purple state becoming increasingly red in recent years.
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state → hop → years
Florida last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 2012.
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Florida → elect → 2012
With 53 Republicans in the Senate, Democrats would need to win four seats to flip the chamber.
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Democrats → need → chamber
But with limited opportunities for pickups, and a handful of their own seats to defend, Democrats' ability to take back control of the chamber has appeared to be an uphill battle.
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ability → defend → chamber
With the race in Florida, they're aiming to improve that picture.
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they → aim → picture
The Aporia
