EATONVILLE, Fla. — Rain did not keep candidates, supporters and voters away from Eatonville City Hall as Central Florida enters the final stretch before Election Day, with a closely watched U.S. Senate race helping drive turnout and campaign activity across the region.
One of the biggest races on the ballot is between Democrat Angie Nixon and incumbent Republican Sen. Ashley Moody. Both candidates have been making stops across Central Florida in the final days before voters head to the polls.
Nixon rallied supporters Sunday at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville, urging them to stay engaged through the end of voting.
“We can win. We will win. We just have to get to work,” Nixon told the crowd. “I need your help now. I need you to push back on these lies.”
The Eatonville stop came during a busy campaign week for Nixon, who also visited Orlando on Tuesday.
“I want to improve the quality of life for folks,” Nixon said. “I’m tired of all the hateful rhetoric, the disinformation. We need to stop that. People are hurting in this moment, and I want to ensure that they can no longer just survive, but they can thrive and flourish.”
Moody has also been campaigning across the state. On Saturday, she joined gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds for a stop in Clearwater. On Friday, she appeared with President Donald Trump at a rally in Fort Myers.
“We stood up when it mattered,” Moody said. “When it wasn’t convenient. When people were criticizing because we were tethered to the principles of the United States of America that we love.”
The candidates have clashed over issues including Amendment 3, which would make changes to Florida’s property tax system, as well as economic policy.
For voters, pocketbook issues remain front and center. Some said the cost of living is shaping how they view the candidates and what they want from elected leaders.
“Gas prices are up for no reason. Cost of living is up for no reason. You’re still working hard,” one voter said.
Jae Fortune, another voter, said the election is about whether leaders can improve people’s daily lives.
“You play with people’s quality of life. You play with people’s ability to feed their children,” Fortune said. “And you’re going to see a strong reaction. And I expect we’re going to see that on Election Day.”
Early voting is now available across Central Florida, with Sumter County joining the rest of the region. Polls are set to close next weekend before voters cast ballots on Election Day, Nov. 3.
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