GOP Sen. Ashley Moody wins special Senate election for Marco Rubio’s old seat in Florida

Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon in the special election for Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s old Senate seat, NBC News projects.

Moody was considered the overwhelming favorite headed into the general election against Nixon, a Democratic Socialists of America-aligned candidate who scored an upset victory in the Democratic primary but faced a cash disadvantage throughout the general election.

Though Moody secured victory, Nixon’s surprise primary night win did elevate the race nationally as her emergence piqued the interest of progressives across the country. Democrats saw her as an opportunity to gain a footing in a state where their party has not won a Senate race since 2012.

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Ultimately, Moody continued the GOP’s run of dominance after largely running a careful, traditional Florida Republican campaign. She will serve the final two years of the term Rubio won in 2022; the seat will be on the ballot again in 2028 for a full term.

Moody relied on her significant fundraising advantage to flood the airwaves in a state of 23 million people, where being able to afford the pricey ad rates is seen as key to victory.

The Republican did face…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business