Republican Sen. Ashley Moody won a special election to the U.S. Senate representing Florida on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. She defeated Democratic challenger Angie Nixon to retain the seat she has held by appointment since early 2025. The Associated Press declared Moody the winner at 8:34 p.m. EST, and with approximately 96.8% of the estimated vote counted, she led Nixon 50.8% to 48%.
Moody, a 51-year-old former state attorney general and federal prosecutor, was appointed to the seat by Governor Ron DeSantis in January 2025. The vacancy was created when Marco Rubio resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State. Nixon, a 42-year-old state lawmaker from the Jacksonville area, is a democratic socialist who gained the nomination after defeating a more moderate candidate in the Democratic primary.
During the campaign, Moody characterized Nixon as intent on defunding the military and police, while Nixon focused on issues of housing affordability and government corruption. Nixon highlighted Moody's role in the "Hope Florida" matter, involving the diversion of Medicaid funds. Nixon campaigned with prominent progressives including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), while Moody appeared at a rally with Donald Trump, who won Florida by 13 points in 2024.
The outcome solidifies Republican representation in a seat the party has held since 2011. Florida voters will see a continuation of Moody’s priorities rather than the platform proposed by Nixon, which included focuses on healthcare access and housing costs.
The victory, a margin of roughly 224,681 votes out of more than 8 million cast, reflects Florida’s current status where Republicans now hold a registration advantage of 1.5 million voters. Moody will now serve through early 2029. The outcome also signals the electoral standing of the progressive wing within the Florida Democratic Party, which has not won a U.S. Senate seat in the state since 2012.
The win ensures that the seat Rubio won in 2022 remains in Republican hands for the remainder of the six-year term. Moody will continue her duties immediately, as she was already serving in the chamber as an appointee. The seat is next scheduled to be on the ballot for a full six-year term during the 2028 election cycle. Administrative deadlines for final certification of the results by Florida election officials typically follow in the weeks after the vote.