Stetson University Center for Public Opinion Research
Stetson's survey of 830 Floridians, conducted online September 14–21, found Sen. Ashley Moody at 51% and Angie Nixon at 40%, with 3% for another candidate and 5% undecided; the release said the results include undecided voters who named a candidate they leaned toward. Stetson reported Moody's support unchanged from its spring survey at 51%, Nixon's up from 38% to 40%, and that 32% of Floridians had never heard of Nixon while 25% knew her and rejected her. Political scientist Kelly Smith wrote that the Republican leads "rest on genuine support, not just negative partisanship."
An InsiderAdvantage poll of 600 likely voters conducted September 20–21 had Moody at 49% to Nixon's 42%.
Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said at a Capitol news conference on September 23 that "the candidate in Florida, she's a card-carrying member of the Democrat Socialists of America" and described the election as a "clear choice between Republican, common-sense individuals, and these crazy, radical Democrats." Nixon responded on CBS News 24/7 the next day that "this is not about three letters" and "If it wasn't DSA, they would be attacking me on something." She said her campaign was about health care access, affordable housing, universal child care and "lowering the costs."
On September 22 Nixon resolved her May Capitol trespassing case without a guilty plea, with a $250 fine and 15 hours of community service, according to The 19th.
A St. Pete Polls survey of 913 likely Florida voters conducted September 15–17 put Sen. Ashley Moody at 45.2 percent to Nixon's 44.8 percent, within the poll's 3.2-point margin of error — the second poll showing the special election effectively tied, after a Change Research survey conducted September 7–9 had the race at 47–47. The RealClearPolling average has Moody at 48.3 percent to Nixon's 43.3 percent.
No Democrat has won a statewide race in Florida since 2018; the special election is November 3, 2026.
Moody told Spectrum News she does not intend to debate Nixon this fall, saying "I am running against a self-proclaimed socialist who, when has been given a stage, likes to quote the Communist Manifesto and, very disturbingly, cop-killers." Nixon, campaigning in St. Petersburg, cited a leaked Leon County grand jury report finding the DeSantis administration "misappropriated" $10 million of taxpayer money in 2024, with Moody as attorney general aware of the plans. Nixon, who joined DSA in June, also cited an AP report that about 440,000 Floridians dropped ACA coverage this year, more than any other state.
Nixon's primary opponent Alex Vindman also declined to debate her; Nixon won the August 18 Democratic primary by double digits.
Reuters interviewed more than two dozen activists, strategists and community leaders on whether DSA-aligned nominees can win Black voters in November, reporting that some voters want candidates focused on housing, healthcare and living costs rather than on Gaza or policing. The piece reported that Angie Nixon overcame a more-than-16-to-1 fundraising disadvantage against Alex Vindman while running up large margins in Black communities, and that Republican nominee Mike Rogers ran unopposed in Michigan and has built a $4.5 million campaign fund. DSA national co-chair Ashik Siddique said the group focuses on "economic solutions that bring people together across identity differences."
Senate nominee Angie Nixon and attorney general candidate Jose Javier Rodriguez called at a joint news conference for Sen. Ashley Moody and Attorney General James Uthmeier to resign, a day after CBS News Miami published contents of a sealed grand jury report finding the DeSantis administration "misappropriated" $10 million diverted into the Hope Florida Foundation. The grand jury wrote that Uthmeier's PAC, Keep Florida Clean, was "the prime recipient of the majority of the $10 million taxpayer funds" and that Moody, then attorney general, authorized her chief deputy to sign the settlement. Moody wrote on social media that her office "had no knowledge of how funds would be spent"; Uthmeier called the report "a politically motivated witch hunt."
The grand jury report was filed under seal with the Leon County Clerk's Office on January 28; CBS News Miami published its contents August 26.
Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate on August 20, two days after her primary win. Sanders said Nixon faced "a candidate funded by the Democratic establishment, and outspent more than 16 to 1," and said she won every one of Florida's major cities.
Axios reported that Nixon won the primary without endorsements from the DSA, Sanders, or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Axios reported that Nixon and Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried had a call Friday that included a yelling match over socialism and campaigning in a red state, citing three people familiar with the conversation. Nixon told Fried she had not received sufficient help from the state party; a person who spoke with Nixon said Fried wants her "to back away from DSA, from socialism." Accounts of the call differ — two people who spoke with Nixon said both yelled, while a person who spoke to Fried said the chair did not yell but was yelled at.
The DSCC issued a statement supporting Nixon on primary night, in a joint release from Sen. Schumer and DSCC chair Gillibrand.
A PolitiFact fact-check carried by WLRN examined Sen. Ashley Moody's claim that Nixon's DSA membership means she supports "Defund the police, don't fund our military, open up the border, noncitizen voting," and found no evidence Nixon has supported defunding police or the military. Nixon said, "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." The check reported that Nixon joined DSA in June 2026.
DSA does not require members to support all of the organization's positions.
Axios reported that although Nixon's win is being cast as a DSA victory, the national organization neither endorsed her nor anticipated the result, and that Nixon joined DSA during her campaign. Axios quoted Nixon saying "I don't campaign as a member of any organization" and "I don't believe in labels," and reported she joined to tap into DSA's grassroots organizational network and supports its positions on housing, public education, corporate power, and Medicare for All.
A Brookings count of the 2026 cycle identified 282 DSA-chapter-endorsed candidates, 29 of them carrying national DSA endorsements.