(The Center Square) – Republicans in Florida chose Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., as their nominee in the state’s special primary election for U.S. Senate Tuesday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Moody in January 2025 after then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was nominated to join President Donald Trump’s cabinet as secretary of state.
In the Democratic primary, state Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, pulled off an upset despite being significantly outraised by her opponent.
Moody and Nixon will advance to November’s general election in which Florida voters will choose their state’s next senator.
Republican primary
Moody was declared the winner by multiple media outlets an hour after the first polls in Florida closed. She won 79.6% of the Republican vote with 79% of ballots counted, as of 8 p.m. ET.
Moody ran with an endorsement from the president, who took to social media last week to call her “a very distinguished and well respected U.S. Senator” who is doing “a tremendous job.”
Since her appointment to the Senate last year, Moody has voted in favor of Republicans’ fiscal priorities, including passing her party’s massive tax and spending package dubbed the “one, big beautiful bill.” She has also introduced legislation to tackle health care and student loan fraud.
Army veteran Chris Gleason finished in second place in Tuesday’s GOP primary, taking 13.6% with 79% of the vote tallied.
Moody outraised her opponents in the Republican primary. Her latest filings to the Federal Election Commission reported $11.3 million in funds raised as of July 29, compared to Gleason’s $22,000.
Moody served two terms as Florida’s attorney general before being appointed to the Senate. Tuesday’s primary was her first test from voters since taking office in Washington, D.C., last year.
Democratic primary
Nixon won the nomination in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, pulling in 55.4% of the vote with 84% counted, as of 8 p.m. ET.
Despite leading Nixon in fundraising by $15.3 million, Army combat veteran Alex Vindman finished 10.8 points behind Nixon.
Nixon has represented her native Jacksonville in the Florida House of Representatives since 2020. Her campaign for Senate has leaned on an economic populist message, pushing for a higher federal minimum wage and increased taxes on billionaires.
Road to November
Moody and Nixon will face each other Nov. 3 in a race the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates “Solid Republican.”
Also on the ballot will be Neil Gillespie, who is running without party affiliation.
Senate Republicans are defending a slim majority in the midterms this year and see Florida’s Senate race as crucial to maintaining their control of the chamber.
