Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) released a new campaign advertisement on Monday, ripping into her Democratic opponent, state Rep. Angie Nixon, whom Moody painted as a “socialist,” while controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker also entered the Florida Senate race fray to defend Nixon as a “fighter.”
Nixon has previously tried to shake the socialist label but has acknowledged she joined the Democratic Socialists of America because she aligns with their platform on universal healthcare and increasing public housing. However, Moody has latched on to Nixon’s DSA membership to frame the race as “freedom or socialism.”
“Angie Nixon is actually a socialist,” the ad says before playing clips of Nixon’s August NBC appearance. “OK, here’s where socialists actually stand on ‘the issues’: Abolish police, empty prisons, defund the military, and seize every farm, power company, and doctor’s office. Angie Nixon actually signed up for that.”
Nixon previously told Axios that she does not believe in DSA agenda items such as abolishing prisons or defunding the police.
Also on Monday, Piker, himself a member of the DSA, took to social media to accuse the Democratic Party of failing to put resources toward Nixon’s campaign. Piker was responding to a Wall Street Journal report that the Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has encouraged donors to put money into the Mississippi Senate race.
“Angie nixon in fl is in the margin of error against a desantis appointed unpopular republican w a corruption scandal and there is not enough attention on her race and she’s not getting the resources she needs,” Piker posted on X. “she’s a fighter. she’s empathetic. please redirect resources to her.”
The Mississippi Senate seat, held by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), is considered “Solid R” by the Cook Political Report, making Democrat Scott Colom’s bid a long shot.
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Nixon is in a similar position to Colom, taking on an incumbent Republican in a red state, but has been told by top Democrats that there are no plans to invest in her bid. Earlier this month, Nixon appeared on the Clock It with Symone & Eugene podcast and said she spoke to Schumer, who said he would “look into” directing money toward her campaign.
However, having Piker jump in as her de facto representative is not likely to help her case. Piker has emerged as an attack point for Republicans, who paint him as “anti-America” for his previous controversial comments. His support for Nixon is not likely to go unnoticed by the GOP and Moody, who has the backing of President Donald Trump.