At a community event in Miami-Dade County, Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon spoke about rising living costs, access to health care, racial equity and the need for greater accountability from elected officials as she campaigns for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
During a fireside chat moderated by journalist Don Lemon, Nixon discussed her plans for addressing the concerns of working families, her criticism of the current political climate and her vision for representing Floridians in Washington.
Nixon, a Democrat from Jacksonville, is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody in the Nov. 3, 2026, special election to fill the remainder of former Sen. Marco Rubio’s term.
Throughout the conversation, Nixon emphasized that she wants lawmakers to focus on policies that affect people’s everyday lives, including housing, health care, child care and wages.
Nixon Calls for Affordable Health Care and Stronger Safety Nets
Health care emerged as one of the central issues during the discussion. Nixon advocated for universal health care, arguing that access to treatment should not depend on a person’s financial circumstances.
She shared the story of a Florida woman who, according to Nixon, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and later experienced changes to her medical coverage and food assistance. Nixon said the woman subsequently reported that her cancer had progressed to stage four.
The story, Nixon said, illustrates the consequences that changes to public assistance programs can have on families already facing serious challenges.
“Why is it OK that we can allow people to die, allow people to go bankrupt simply because CEOs want to make more money for their shareholders?” Nixon asked.
She also criticized policies she said could reduce access to Medicaid and other safety-net programs, arguing that families need reliable access to medical treatment, food and financial support.
Nixon cited research she described as showing that universal health care could save money and lives. Her comments reflected her support for a broader public role in ensuring access to medical care.
Affordability Is a Top Priority for Working Families
When Lemon asked what she would prioritize for a young mother struggling to afford rent, groceries and child care, Nixon said lowering household costs would be an immediate focus.
She pointed to her own experience as a single mother who received down payment and closing-cost assistance through a government-backed program, which she said helped her purchase a home.
“I am proof positive of what happens when government does the right thing,” Nixon said.
She argued that public programs can help families establish financial stability and criticized tax policies she said disproportionately benefit wealthy individuals and large corporations.
Nixon also called for higher wages, arguing that workers should be able to meet their basic needs without relying on government assistance.
“Pay people a living wage,” she said, describing what she sees as a need to change the relationship between employers, workers and public assistance programs.
Her affordability message reflects the focus of her Senate campaign, which has highlighted the rising costs of groceries, housing, health care and child care across Florida.
Nixon Says Black Voters Deserve More From the Democratic Party
The discussion also addressed the role of Black voters, particularly Black women, in Democratic politics.
Nixon described Black voters as a critical part of the party’s electoral coalition but said their support should be met with greater investment, respect and representation.
“We can’t just be used for our labor. They have to appreciate our leadership,” Nixon said.
She criticized the limited financial support she said Black-owned media outlets often receive during political campaigns, despite being asked to help candidates reach their audiences.
Nixon called for more Black people, including women, to hold leadership positions within the party and receive meaningful opportunities to shape policy.
She also highlighted the importance of organizing communities around shared priorities rather than relying exclusively on campaign promises.
“We have to really work to elevate more Black people, Black women, Black men inside of the party,” she said.
Her comments underscored a broader question raised during the event: how political parties can turn support from Black communities into tangible policy results and greater representation.
Calls for Accountability and Grassroots Organizing
Nixon said elected officials should be held accountable for their decisions, regardless of party affiliation.
She argued that constituents should take an active role in defining legislative priorities rather than allowing corporate interests and lobbyists to dominate policy discussions.
“I believe that we need to work within our communities and come up with the people’s budget and a people’s agenda,” Nixon said.
Under that approach, she said, communities would identify their needs and present lawmakers with a clear list of priorities.
Nixon also defended her confrontational approach to politics, arguing that traditional methods of communicating with elected officials are not always enough to stop policies she believes harm working families.
“We can’t just send strongly worded emails,” she said. “We at times have to, you know, shake the table a little bit.”
She said her experience organizing in Florida’s Legislature would inform how she approaches the Senate, including working with lawmakers across party lines while applying pressure from outside government.
Nixon described the combination of legislative work and community organizing as an inside-outside strategy.
Immigration Rhetoric and the Political Climate
Lemon also asked Nixon about comments she attributed to Vice President JD Vance telling her to leave the United States. Nixon described the remarks as disrespectful and argued that divisive political rhetoric can distract from economic concerns.
She said she believes political leaders sometimes use cultural and identity-based conflicts to shift public attention away from policies affecting health care, education and economic security.
Nixon also discussed her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America, the Working Families Party and the NAACP, as well as her union membership. She said she joined organizations that share her focus on improving people’s quality of life.
She emphasized that membership does not mean she agrees with every position held by an organization. Nixon specifically rejected calls to defund the police or abolish prisons, saying her focus is on access to health care, housing, education and other basic needs.
Her remarks reflected her view that political disagreements should not prevent people from working together on issues that affect their communities.
What Nixon Says She Would Bring to the Senate
Lemon asked Nixon what would distinguish her from other politicians who promise to fight for working families.
Nixon said she would bring an organizing approach to Washington and would be willing to challenge members of her own party when she believes they are not doing enough.
She also expressed concern about the future of American democratic institutions, including the possibility of President Donald Trump attempting to remain in power beyond his current term. These comments reflected Nixon’s concerns about the administration and its use of federal authority.
She argued that senators must be willing to push back against policies they believe threaten democratic institutions and the rights of their constituents.
Nixon also called on voters to evaluate candidates based on their records and policy positions rather than campaign advertisements or public appearances.
“We have to get past all the flashiness and the shininess of a candidate and really just get to the root of where their heart is at,” she said.
As the Senate race continues, Nixon is presenting herself as a candidate focused on affordability, expanded access to health care, worker protections and community-led policymaking.
Her appearance in Miami-Dade offered supporters an opportunity to hear directly from her about those priorities and her approach to representing Florida in Washington.
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