Florida’s progressive test

America, Actually with Astead Herndon

Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, a progressive candidate and former union organizer, defied the odds by defeating heavily favored opponent Al

Key takeaways

• Nixon's victory was fueled by decades of community organizing, not just fundraising or media presence.
• She built a broad coalition across party lines, including Republicans and Libertarians, drawn to her anti-corruption stance and focus on accountability.

Main topics

• Grassroots organizing in political campaigns
• Progressive policy support in swing states like Florida

Notable quotes

"Folks tend to underestimate a Black woman oftentimes, especially a progressive Black woman in politics."

"I knew that I could not make up that fundraising disadvantage... but I knew that I can't be outworked."

Conclusion

Angie Nixon's campaign demonstrates that progressive politics can thrive in traditionally conservative

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) You may have heard there was another big upset in the Democratic primary, this time in Florida. In that state's Senate Democratic primary, State Representative Angie Nixon defeated Alexander Vindman, notching another victory for progressives in the ongoing battle for the soul of the Democratic Party. But does Nixon fit neatly within the progressive label? I'm not so sure. So we decided to call her up for a special episode of America Actually. The Angie Nixon Playbook. Let's dig in. Speaker 1 (0:36) Representative Angie Nixon, thank you so much for joining us on America Actually. I appreciate your time. Thanks for having me, Seth. We are excited to do this interview, and we have been wanting to since your big primary win. You were a big underdog in the Florida Democratic primary, outraged 17 to 1 by your opponent. Prediction markets like how she had you at just 8 cents to the dollar on the morning of the election. And even on this show, we did not cover the Florida Democratic primary until we saw that shock result. Why do you think you're— victory took so many by surprise? It took so many by surprise because folks tend to underestimate a Black woman oftentimes, especially a progressive Black woman in politics and then one who wasn't able to raise as much money. Speaker 1 (1:22) But as a former single mom for 12 years, I know how to make a dollar stretch. And clearly I know how to make one stretch to like 18. And also this win is contributed to good old fashioned grassroots organizing. I am a former union organizer. I am a community community organizer. And I just know the importance of people power and talking to people. and getting them energized about why they should vote and why they should see themselves in this country. Yeah, I mean, I was seeing some reporting over the weekend about how you structure campaign events, how you all make sure to canvas at the same time that you have a rally or things like that. Can you lay out kind of how you conducted this primary campaign? How is, you know, for those unfamiliar, what did Angie Nixon do in Florida that is unique to what other campaigns have done elsewhere? Speaker 1 (2:16) I would say I went back to old school, organizing an old school campaigning and just going out and talking to people, as many people as possible. I knew that I could not make up that fundraising disadvantage that I was in, but I knew that I can't be outworked. And so I've also been able to create a broad coalition. I built a broad coalition of... diverse people all across the state for nearly two decades just based on the work that I have done here in the state. And I activated those folks because I am positive basically of what happens when you invest in the community and you create leaders and you invest in leaders who then become elected officials. They are only going to be beholden to regular everyday people, not these big billionaires and corrupt corporations. And so we knocked on doors, we made phone calls. We had little mini events that would again turn out to... Speaker 1 (3:17) talk people to go knock on doors and make phone calls. Brick by brick, step by step. Exactly. You know, too many times right now, people throw these big massive rallies to try to energize the base, and they sign people up and then they go home, right? No, you're here. You need to make some phone calls and go knock on some doors with us as well. How much would you ascribe your win to the type of politics that you're describing here versus the policy and progressive policy specifically that you championed? Speaker 1 (3:47) I mean, should we take this as a sign that Medicare for all, that Abolish ICE has roots in Florida, has support in Florida that maybe some have underplayed? Yeah, for sure. Like it's all of it. Right. It is the hard work that we put into this race to raise awareness about who I am and the policies and positions that I stand for, which are policies and positions that the majority of our working everyday people stand for. And so they have just been, the disinformation is real. And so they have tried to fearmonger and scare people into believing just because we want access to quality health care and affordable housing and fully funded public schools. They tried to fearmonger and make it seem as though we are communists. And we're not. We are not communists. That is not something to play with, right? We are people who want to play. Speaker 1 (4:44) hardworking, everyday people in power so that they can determine and shape what our communities look like and what our economies look like. And there's nothing radical or extreme about that. Yeah, I really wanted to dig into the policy positions. But before that, you know, Democrats are still dismissing your chances to win a general election. Prominent pundits have said that Democrats should not invest in Florida and that would be amounted to wasted money. Political forecasters move the race in the Republican direction after. your primary victory, arguing that the progressive politics makes it easier for Republicans to win in a state like Florida. I wanted to ask just about electability. Can you give me the case for how you can win a statewide race amongst such skepticism? The same way that I was able to win a primary being out in and out fundraise 18 to 1, I am building a very unique Speaker 1 (5:42) diverse coalition of people. We've had Republicans and Independents that crossed over in the primary to vote for me in the primary, right? They also volunteered in our campaign. They've made donations. And we literally have Republican men right now. I mean, not just Republican men, a bunch of Republicans and Libertarians, easy, as well, who have been stating that they are voting for me because they like that I am no nonsense. They appreciate that I am trying to put a check on what is coming out of Washington, D.C., all of the cruelty and the corruption. And that is the winning method. We're up against a woman who allowed the theft of $10 million. She allowed money to be stolen from medically needy and low-income kids to be diverted towards two citizen-led ballot initiatives that actually caused... Speaker 1 (6:39) us to not have better health in our community. And so people are frustrated. And that's all Ashley Moody has done is just really look out for herself, her campaign donors, and these billionaires. And people are ready for... elected officials to stop bailing out these big businesses, but to actually look out for everyday people. Yeah, I mean, you certainly sound like a lot of the voters we have heard over the last couple of years, increased frustration with traditional establishment politics, a desire for political creativity. I want this for you to lay out kind of your life before elected office. I had read that you were a fifth generation Jacksonville resident and that you worked with SEIU, Florida for All, but also that you opened a bookstore and coffee shop. Speaker 1 (7:24) It seemed as if a diverse range of experiences kind of led you to this moment. I guess I wanted to ask, like, what did you learn before elected office or outside of elected office that shapes how you approach elected office? For sure. And so I don't know how that rumor got started, though. I am not a fifth generational. Well, then I'm actually a first. It's fine. A lot of people. Good to know. Good to know. I'm a first generational Jacksonville resident. And my family is from southern Georgia, which is why I have this draw. Shout out to Waycross and Broxton, Georgia in the house. And. Speaker 1 (8:01) I was a community organizer and a union organizer. I'm actually still consider myself a community organizer. And I worked on helping unionize adjunct professors and colleges across the state. I also helped increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour working as a statewide organizer and field director and working in... tandem with the Fight for 15. I was a member of SEIU. I was a union organizer with them. And me and my daughter also, my daughter who has suffered from insecurities about her hair and her skin complexion, we actually also, we are authors. We co-authored three books together and we made her into a superhero with her afro puff. Speaker 1 (8:55) became her superpowers. We did this when she was seven. She's now 19. And we wind up traveling all across the state of Florida promoting literacy in low-income communities. We opened up several businesses. And right now we have a bookstore, which teaches true and accurate history. We have a lot of band books. And it's also a coffee shop and a sandwich smoothie shop. And so I have just been really rooted in community. Yeah. Yeah.