Florida Elections Shock the World

State Rep. Nixon addresses supporters at her election watch party

On Tuesday, Florida voters went to the polls for the state's primary elections. Although the gubernatorial races for both parties turned out as anticipated, the Democratic Senate race and additional downballot races shocked the world!

In the race for the Democratic nomination for Florida's Senate special election, state representative Angie Nixon, a Democratic Socialist, defeated retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman. Although Vindman outraised Nixon by more than 16 to 1, Nixon assembled a diverse coalition including black voters, Hispanic voters, and young voters from all backgrounds. Nixon prioritized countering the affordability crisis with policies such as Medicare for All, taxing billionaires, freezing rent prices, and abolishing for-profit prisons.

Populist candidates also did well on the Republican side, reflecting a rise in polarization and extremism in both parties. An openly white nationalist candidate won a State House of Representatives primary, groyper James Fishback received over 10% of the vote statewide, and anti-semitic social media personality Dan Bilzerian won 18.7% in his Daytona-based district.

During the primary, counties and municipalities also held local elections. Most prominently, Democrats flipped the Sarasota School Board, an Orange County School Board seat, and a Jacksonville City Council seat.