In the November 3, 2026, U.S. midterm elections, Republican incumbent Senator Ashley Moody narrowly defeated Democratic state Representative Angie Nixon in a highly watched special election to retain her seat in the U.S. Senate.
Election Outcome and Key Data
Multiple outlets, including NBC News and The Guardian, reported on November 3 and 4, 2026, that Moody won the race.
Because Moody was originally appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in January 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Marco Rubio, who became Secretary of State, this special election fills the remaining two years of the term. Moody will face voters again for a full six-year term in 2028.
The Ideological Battleground
The campaign drew intense national attention and high-profile endorsements, presenting voters with a sharp ideological choice. Backed heavily by President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, Moody focused her platform on law enforcement, border security, and conservative economic policies, framing the race as a choice between freedom and socialism.
Supported by prominent progressives including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nixon campaigned extensively on democratic socialist platforms, focusing on raising wages, corporate taxation, cost-of-living adjustments, and healthcare access. Following the results, Moody declared at her victory watch party in Tampa that Florida chose freedom.
Sources:
NBC News: https://nbcnews.com
The Guardian: https://theguardian.com
