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Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon distanced herself from several major planks in the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) national program Thursday on “Meet the Press NOW,” after host Kristen Welker pressed her to explain why she joined an organization that called for abolishing the office she is seeking.
Nixon said she joined the DSA because it supported public housing, healthcare, helping homeless veterans and removing big money from politics, but rejected incumbent Republican Sen. Ashley Moody’s characterization of her political identity.
“Ashley Moody knows that I’m not a socialist,” Nixon said. “I joined the DSA because I believe in them in regards to fighting for adequate public housing, as well as fighting for quality healthcare, as well as making sure that we are getting our veterans off the street, taking big money out of politics, right?”
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Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon said Sen. Ashley Moody knew she was not a socialist despite her DSA membership. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The DSA’s program called for a new Constitution, abolishing the Senate, defunding the Department of War, ending sanctions on countries including Iran and establishing public ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries.
Nixon explicitly rejected abolishing the Senate and drafting a new constitution. She also said she did not support defunding the military, although she called for greater scrutiny of defense spending. Nixon did not directly answer Welker’s question about lifting sanctions on Iran.
“I don’t believe in defunding anything. I think we need to make sure that we are scrutinizing them, and we need to make sure we’re spending money the right way,” Nixon said.
The Republican National Committee sought to use Nixon’s defense of her DSA membership against Democrats nationally, accusing the Senate nominee of embracing far-left positions on crime, immigration and taxes.
“Socialist lunatic Angie Nixon wants to empty our prisons, open our borders, and raise your taxes to bankroll their far-left agenda,” RNC spokeswoman Emma Hall said in a statement to Digital Friday. “Every word out of Nixon’s mouth is an in-kind contribution to Republicans in Florida and across the country.”
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Nixon said she joined the DSA because of its positions on public housing, healthcare, homeless veterans and money in politics. (Joe Raedle; Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
Welker asked Nixon whether she considered herself a capitalist after Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly described himself that way.
“I live in a capitalistic society. I’m a small business owner. I like to make money. I don’t see what the problem is,” she said. “I’m a capitalist who believes that we need some strong regulation.”
Nixon campaigned on Medicare-for all, free child care, a national rent freeze, an eviction moratorium, a universal jobs program and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
She dismissed scrutiny of her DSA membership as a distraction from the issues Florida voters face.
Welker played video of Moody describing the general election as a fight against Nixon and her fellow socialists. Moody also discussed the race Wednesday during an appearance on ’ “Hannity.”
“Angie Nixon, who will be my opponent in November, and her comrades want to destroy this country and everything that it is built on,” Moody said.
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Nixon rejected several DSA platform proposals and described herself as “a capitalist” who supported strong regulation. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Nixon advanced to face Moody after defeating former National Security Council official Alexander Vindman by nearly 12 percentage points despite being outspent roughly 16-to-1.
Moody was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Marco Rubio after Rubio became Secretary of State. The winner in November will serve the final two years of Rubio’s term.
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Digital reached out to Nixon, Moody and the DSA for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
