TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – State Representative Angie Nixon will be campaigning across Florida this weekend with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a leading voice in the progressive movement.
Angie Nixon is believed to be the first registered member of the Democratic Socialists of America to be nominated for a statewide office anywhere in the country, and she’s not backing away from progressive ideals with these rallies.
Sanders is inviting Nixon onto the stage this weekend with rallies in Tampa, Melbourne, Gainesville and Tallahassee.
The mere idea of socialism is a lightning rod in Florida politics.
“If you’re trying to pump up Democratic turnout in the base and you’re worried about them not showing up, then having some national high-profile Democrats come down here, maybe that helps,” University of Central Florida associate professor Aubrey Jewett said.
Florida politics:
Lt. Governor Jay Collins is spending his last few months in office fighting against socialism. He said it’s bad public policy for the sunshine state.
“You trade a little bit of stability, short-term freedom, for freedom long-term, and it always turns out the same, and I’m glad we that we stood on this,” Collins said. “Florida certainly is a place where socialism and communism will be taught facts on that.”
But Nixon’s progressive platform did lead her to an upset in the primary election when she defeated a more moderate candidate, and even more moderate Democrats on the statewide ticket are courting progressive voters.
“In Florida, just like elsewhere, within the Democratic base, there are some folks that are pretty progressive, or even socialist, self-identified, and [David Jolly] needs their votes. I mean, even if he’s not a socialist, it’s like politicians need votes,” Jewett said.
The Florida Capital Bureau reached out to Senator Ashley Moody, who is running for reelection against Nixon, for comment on Sanders’s visit.
“Bernie Sanders coming to Florida to campaign for Socialist Angie Nixon tells voters everything they need to know. Socialist Angie wants Bernie’s agenda for Florida families: higher taxes, defunded police and military, government-run healthcare, and the same failed policies we have rejected time and time again. Flying in the Socialist Senator from Vermont won’t change that. This is the Free State of Florida.”
Sanders and Nixon will make stops in Tampa and Melbourne on Saturday, Oct. 17. They will be in Gainesville and Tallahassee on Sunday, Oct. 18. To learn more about each event, click here.
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