Nixon calls Florida ‘missed opportunity’ for Democrats

Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon (D), who lost to GOP incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody in last week’s midterm elections, referred to the contest during an interview posted Tuesday as a “missed opportunity” for Sunshine State Democrats.

“If want to continue to profess that we care about Black people and Hispanic communities, then we need to invest in them,” Nixon said on “The Don Lemon Show.” “Black women, especially Black people, are seen as the backbone of the party, and so they need to not only invest … in our labor so to speak, they need to really invest in our leadership.”

“It was just a really missed opportunity, and we need to have some tough conversation,” she added.

In the interview, Nixon also discussed funds her campaign received from Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other members of the Democratic Party, with some donations coming in “the day before the election” — seeming to suggest the donations may have come too little, too late.

The Hill has reached out to Schumer’s office, Nixon’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for a comment.

Florida is one of the few states where Republicans maintained their strong hold as Democrats secured sweeping victories across the country — claiming both congressional chambers and flipping GOP-held seats in battleground states like Texas, South Carolina, Iowa and Kansas, among others.

Nixon lost the Senate race to her opponent by around 200,000 votes and a little less than three points, according to Decision Desk HQ , The Hill’s election results partner. The state’s gubernatorial race also swung in the Republicans’ favor, with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) defeating Democrat David Jolly by a little over one point.

While Democrats lost statewide races in Florida, they did not lose hope for 2028. Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried said she believes the left may be closer to breakthrough in future elections.

“Yes , we could win. … Imagine if we put a little more into Florida,” Fried said in an interview with The Hill, recounting her recent conversations with the party’s operatives.