Moody wins 11th District race with 10 million dollar ad edge
The former state attorney general secures the final two years of Marco Rubio's term, capping a campaign where Democrats failed to win a Senate seat in Florida since 2012.
By Nikolai Patterson ·
Republican Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon in the special election for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Marco Rubio. NBC News projected Moody’s victory, which extends her tenure through 2028 before the seat returns to a full-term election cycle.
Moody, who served as Florida’s attorney general before being appointed to the Senate, utilized a substantial financial advantage to dominate the broadcast market. The state has a population of 23 million people, where high advertising costs are widely considered essential for winning statewide races.
Her opponent, Angie Nixon, entered the general election as an outsider. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, she won the Democratic primary in an upset but lacked the fundraising power to match the incumbent. Nixon attempted to close the gap by conducting in-person events across the state and appearing on center-left podcasts.
Critics of Moody’s strategy pointed to her limited public schedule. Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, urged Moody to engage directly with voters during a news conference in Tallahassee. Fried held a sign reading “Where is Ashley Moody?” and argued that the former attorney general should answer questions rather than rely solely on negative attacks.
Moody’s campaign focused on positioning Nixon as too liberal for the state’s current political balance. Florida now has 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats, a reversal of the historical Democratic advantage. Campaign ads highlighted policies associated with the DSA, such as abolishing police, which Nixon said she did not support.
Moody also faced scrutiny over her role in the Hope Florida scandal. As state attorney general, she signed off on a $10 million Medicaid settlement directed to a charity tied to First Lady Casey DeSantis. Funds from that settlement were later used to oppose a 2024 recreational marijuana measure. A state prosecutor’s grand jury reviewed the matter but brought no charges, and Moody has denied any wrongdoing.
