Following Florida state Representative Angie Nixon’s unexpected victory in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, her Republican rival quickly worked to associate her campaign with radical policy positions.
Incumbent Republican Senator Ashley Moody drew attention to Nixon’s affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that has gained significant national focus amid a string of primary victories by its members nationwide, beginning with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 election.
During her August 18 victory speech, Moody, who was appointed to the Senate in 2025 and is defending her seat, stated, “My opponent will be a self-proclaimed socialist that proudly signed up and joined the Democratic Socialists of America. That will be my opponent. … You’re going to have one side that I’m going to be up against that wants to, and the platform says, ‘Defund the police, don’t fund our military, open up the border, noncitizen voting.’”
Nixon, a Jacksonville lawmaker who has served in the Florida House since 2020, became a member of the Democratic Socialists of America in June. However, records show the organization did not formally endorse her campaign.
When questioned by journalists about how her views align with the DSA, Nixon noted that she supports many, but not all, of the group’s initiatives. “I don’t fully align with anybody’s full platform 100%, not even the Democratic Party,” Nixon remarked to WLRN.
Representatives for Nixon’s campaign emphasized that she is also affiliated with other groups, such as the Working Families Party and the Service Employees International Union.
Her team stressed that she backs public safety initiatives, criminal justice overhauls, tackling the root causes of criminal behavior, and maintaining secure borders while simultaneously offering clear legal routes to citizenship.
Cameron Gambini, Moody’s campaign communications director, argued that the senator’s criticisms were aimed directly at the DSA’s official platform. “If you are voluntarily a member of the DSA, which is on record preaching to defund the police, you too support defunding the police,” Gambini argued. He also pointed to Nixon’s vote against Florida’s SAVE Act—which mandates proof of citizenship for voter registration—as proof that she endorses voting rights for noncitizens.
While the DSA maintains broad policy objectives, individual members are not bound by a strict ideological checklist. According to the organization’s constitution, anyone who agrees with its core principles is welcome to join, and members frequently hold opinions that diverge from official group stances. For instance, the New York City DSA branch recently took issue with Mayor Mamdani’s decision to expand the local police force.
Interested in factual reporting on Florida politics? Subscribe to the Florida midterms newsletter.
What is Nixon’s position on defunding police?
Nixon has publicly rejected the idea of defunding law enforcement, emphasizing instead a need for meaningful criminal justice reform.
“What I support is making sure we have law and order in this country,” Nixon shared during an appearance on MS NOW’s Morning Joe. She added, “I don’t support defunding the police. I do support comprehensive criminal justice reform to make sure we are addressing some of the root causes of people leading into a life of crime.” Available records show no history of Nixon supporting efforts to strip funding from police departments.
Though she stops short of advocating for the closure of all correctional facilities, Nixon has called for the elimination of private, for-profit prisons, citing concerns over labor exploitation and the financial incentives to maintain high incarceration rates.
Conversely, the DSA’s official platform advocates for abolishing police and prisons entirely, pushing for the demilitarization of law enforcement, reduced police budgets, and greater investment in community-led governance.
State Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Fla., uses a bullhorn on the House floor as lawmakers votes on HB1D, a redistricting bill, during a special session of the Florida Legislature, April 29, 2026, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP)
What is Nixon’s position on defunding the military?
Nixon maintains that she opposes expensive military conflicts, such as the U.S. war with Iran, and prefers diplomatic solutions to international disputes. There is no indication that she has ever promoted defunding the military as a whole.
During a July interview with Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Nixon pointed out that the Department of Defense has consistently failed its financial audits while American veterans remain unhoused and military families rely on food assistance.
Her campaign platform asserts that American foreign policy ought to reflect the priorities of everyday citizens rather than the agendas of defense contractors and foreign lobbies, explicitly criticizing massive expenditures on the Iran conflict that put service members and civilians at risk.
The closest Nixon has come to supporting reductions in military spending involves U.S. aid to Israel.
In an August radio discussion, Nixon mentioned that had she been in Congress, she would have backed a legislative resolution aimed at halting $3.3 billion in military assistance to Israel, stating, “We cannot continue to send money to countries that are violating international law, that are violating human rights.”
In contrast, the DSA’s foreign policy guidelines explicitly demand cutting funds for the Department of War (referring to the Department of Defense), alongside advocating for veteran employment programs, holding U.S. war criminals accountable, and backing the International Criminal Court.
What is Nixon’s position on opening the U.S. border?
Nixon’s campaign clarified that she favors maintaining secure borders alongside “clear and compassionate pathways for citizenship.” Her website reiterates this stance while also calling for the dissolution of ICE and a complete overhaul of immigration enforcement.
In July, Nixon emphasized the necessity of modernizing and reforming the immigration framework.
“I think border patrol should make sure they are securing the border while there are clear pathways to citizenship, especially for Haitians, Venezuelans and Syrians who recently saw their temporary protected status revoked,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the DSA’s platform advocates for dismantling ICE, halting all deportations, legalizing migration, offering general amnesty to immigrants regardless of legal status, and creating clear citizenship avenues for permanent residents.
During a July Fox News Sunday appearance, DSA co-chair Megan Romer described the eventual elimination of borders and amnesty for undocumented immigrants as part of a “long-term plan.”
What is Nixon’s position on noncitizen voting?
Nixon has not endorsed noncitizen voting, and her campaign platform does not include it as a priority. Her team reiterated that she “supports the right of every eligible American citizen to vote.”
Her opposition to Florida’s SAVE Act stemmed from concerns that the legislation would create unnecessary hurdles for students, seniors, and married women who have changed their names and might struggle to furnish the requested documentation.
By contrast, the DSA actively supports granting full voting rights to all permanent U.S. residents, as well as restoring franchise rights to individuals with past criminal convictions and those currently incarcerated.
Research assistance for this report was provided by PolitiFact researcher Caryn Baird.
RELATED: What Trump’s communism claims miss about Democrats and democratic socialists