Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon told NBC News on Thursday that she is "not a socialist." She is trying to drop the label ahead of her general election race against Sen. Ashley Moody.
Nixon defeated centrist Democrat Alex Vindman in a primary upset this week. She admitted she joined the Democratic Socialists of America as a member mainly for their support of universal healthcare.
She said she likes to make money as a small business owner.
Nixon told Axios on Friday that she does not support key items in the DSA agenda. She specifically rejected ideas like abolishing prisons and defunding the police.
She also said she does not celebrate former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. This stance matters in Florida where many voters fled communist rule.
Over 60% of Cuban Americans live in Florida, according to reports. The state is a difficult place to sell socialism to many voters.
Despite her new comments, Nixon has kept endorsements from left-wing figures. She received support from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Democratic socialist candidate Angie Nixon says "it's not about labels" after Florida Senate primary victory https://t.co/QW6yI7F4s7
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 19, 2026
The race is ranked as a "Solid Republican" seat by election forecasters. President Donald Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris by 13.1 percentage points in 2024.
Incumbent Moody was tapped by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill an unexpired term. She is largely expected to win the general election given the state's lean.
Other leftist candidates have won primaries in Michigan and New York recently. The trend shows socialism rising in the party across the country.
Nixon called the Democratic Party a "big tent" that is an "everybody party." She said she lives in a capitalist society and sees no problem with making money.
She emphasized fighting for public housing and quality healthcare as her main goals. She also wants to take big money out of politics and help veterans.
The DSA platform includes abolishing the Senate and changing how leadership is chosen. Nixon is clearly trying to separate herself from those specific far-left proposals.
Her opponents will likely use her past membership against her in the campaign. The general election matchup sets the stage for a tough fight in November.