Angie Nixon, Florida’s Democratic Senate nominee, is not letting the DSA label slow her down. In an interview on CBS News 24/7, Nixon responded directly to GOP criticism of her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America, saying flatly that the attack is not about those three letters.
“This is not about three letters,” Nixon said. “Let’s be clear. If it wasn’t DSA, they would be attacking me on something.”
Nixon represents parts of Jacksonville in the state legislature and won the Democratic primary last month, defeating a more moderate opponent in one of the latest examples of an insurgent progressive pulling off a victory despite a significant cash disadvantage. She now faces GOP Sen. Ashley Moody, who was appointed to the Senate in January 2025.
Barrasso’s Attack
Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 2 Senate Republican, made the criticism public during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. He called out Nixon by name, saying, “The candidate in Florida, she’s a card-carrying member of the Democrat Socialists of America.”
Barrasso framed the election as a choice between two camps. He said it was a clear choice between Republican, common-sense individuals and crazy, radical Democrats who have taken their party so far to the left.
Nixon’s response was direct. “What this is about is what I am fighting for, which is to ensure that people have access to quality healthcare, people have affordable housing, there’s things like universal childcare so people, parents can get to work,” she said.
She added: “I care about lowering the costs, and ensuring that government works for the people and not against them.”
The Record That Won’t Erase
The interview also touched on a separate story line. Reports emerged that some prominent references to President Trump had been scrubbed from Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds’ campaign website in recent weeks.
Donalds has said the changes were made to reinforce the campaign’s key policy themes ahead of the general election, like affordability. Nixon took a different view.
“It doesn’t matter whether or not you delete Trump policies or Trump endorsements from your website. You can’t delete your record,” she said.
The Cash Gap
Nixon’s primary win came despite a significant cash disadvantage. That result has drawn attention to the situation within her campaign.
Her position in Jacksonville has been consistent. She represents parts of the city in the state legislature, and her healthcare, housing and childcare agenda has been central to her campaign messaging.
Moody’s Path to the Senate
Moody was appointed to the Senate in January 2025. The race pits Nixon’s progressive credentials against Moody’s record as a Republican.
Barrasso’s framing of the election as a choice between Republican, common-sense individuals and crazy, radical Democrats sets the stakes for the general election. GOP criticism of Nixon has centered on her DSA membership, with Barrasso’s remarks serving as a notable example of that approach.
What Nixon Wants
Nixon’s message is simple: the attack on her DSA membership is not the real issue. The real issue is healthcare, housing and childcare.
“I care about lowering the costs, and ensuring that government works for the people and not against them,” she said.
That is a clear statement of what she believes her campaign is about. It is also a rejection of the idea that her political identity is the story.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs no party machine and is against treating the DSA label as a reason to attack Angie Nixon rather than judging her record against individual freedom, small business, and no concentrations of power. Nixon’s primary win came despite a significant cash disadvantage, and she has answered GOP attacks directly without backing down.
Nixon’s response to Barrasso was direct and on-message. She rejected the DSA attack as a distraction and returned to healthcare, housing, childcare and cost-lowering, the issues she says define her campaign. That is the kind of candidate the paper wants to see — answering attacks with substance rather than deflection.
The attacks will continue as the general election nears. The paper will judge Nixon’s record against its north star of individual freedom, small business, and no concentrations of power, not by the strength of her opponents’ attacks. Voters should look past the labels and focus on what she actually delivers on healthcare, housing and childcare.
Key Facts Box
- Candidate: Angie Nixon, Florida’s Democratic Senate nominee
- Primary win: Defeated a more moderate opponent last month
- Opponent: GOP Sen. Ashley Moody, appointed to the Senate in January 2025
- Barrasso’s role: No. 2 Senate Republican from Wyoming
- DSA reference: Barrasso called Nixon a “card-carrying member of the Democrat Socialists of America”
- Barrasso’s framing: Clear choice between Republican, common-sense individuals and crazy, radical Democrats
- Nixon’s response: “This is not about three letters”; focused on healthcare, housing, childcare and cost-lowering
The race is still young. The attacks will likely continue. But Nixon has made her position clear: the DSA label is not the issue, and she has answered it directly.
She represents parts of Jacksonville in the state legislature. Her healthcare, housing and childcare agenda has been central to her campaign messaging.
Source material: “DSA candidate Angie Nixon says "this is not about three letters",” CBS News.
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