Ashley Moody Projected to Hold Florida Senate Seat Against Democratic Socialist Angie Nixon
Republicans are projected to hold on to a key Senate seat in Florida after a race that pitted a Trump ally against a democratic socialist challenger.
Sen. Ashley Moody is projected to defeat Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, according to Decision Desk HQ. The result keeps the seat in GOP hands and adds another win to President Donald Trump's endorsement record.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Moody to the Senate to replace Marco Rubio after Rubio became secretary of state in Trump's Cabinet. The projection means the former Florida attorney general will keep the seat she first took in January 2025.
The Cook Political Report had rated the race solid Republican, but the early numbers were tighter than expected. At 8:03 p.m. Tuesday, DDHQ showed Moody ahead by 0.7 points with 84.3 percent of the vote reported, and counting continued after that snapshot.
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“Freedom vs. Socialism”
Moody ran in support of Trump's immigration agenda and leaned heavily on her law enforcement and courtroom background. Her campaign website promised to stand up for the rule of law.
She cast the race as a choice between safety and chaos, according to Florida station WPTV. “This election is Freedom vs. Socialism,” Moody wrote on Facebook in August. “We cannot afford to have the radical Left take over our Free State.”
Trump endorsed Moody and praised her work for Florida, tying his support to his own strong showings in the state. His backing cemented her place alongside the administration, while DeSantis's appointment had already made her part of the state's Republican leadership.
Nixon's Attacks Fell Short
Nixon, who won the Democratic primary, ran an aggressive campaign centered on the Hope Florida controversy. She went as far as calling for Moody to be “locked up and punished in jail” over allegations about money directed to the charity.
The accusations concerned Moody's time as attorney general and her role in approving a settlement agreement. CBS News Miami reported that a sealed grand jury report described Moody as aware of plans to divert the payment and said she authorized former chief deputy attorney general John Guard to sign the agreement.
The projected Republican win means Nixon was unable to turn that controversy into a statewide victory.
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A Long Legal Résumé
Moody brought a deep legal background to the race. Born and raised in Plant City, she is a fifth-generation Floridian. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting and a law degree from the University of Florida, and later a Master of Laws in international law from Stetson University.
She started her career at Holland & Knight, handling commercial litigation and helping domestic violence victims obtain protection. She then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office, prosecuting drug, firearms and fraud cases.
In 2006, at age 31, she was elected a circuit judge in Hillsborough County, becoming Florida's youngest judge. She served on the bench until 2017 and then as attorney general from 2019 to 2025, before taking her Senate oath on January 21, 2025.
Moody and her husband, Justin, a career law enforcement officer, have two sons, Brandon and Connor. That background shaped a campaign built around policing, immigration enforcement and conservative priorities, and Florida voters appear to have rewarded it.