Compare candidates running in this Florida federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.
Party: Democrat
Party: Democrat
Party: Democrat
Party: Democratic
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Party: Republican
This special election will determine party control of a Senate seat in Florida, a key state that has shifted significantly toward Republicans. While currently held by the GOP with an incumbent advantage, Democratic entrance of well-funded candidate Alex Vindman prompted Sabato's Crystal Ball to downgrade the race from safe Republican to likely Republican, indicating some competitive potential if Democrats achieve strong midterm conditions.
Jennifer Jenkins is a former Brevard County school board member, speech-language pathologist, and educator who announced her Senate candidacy in September 2025 but withdrew on January 29, 2026, to endorse Alex Vindman. Jenkins, 38, gained prominence for her 2020 victory defeating well-known Republican incumbent Tina Descovich (who later co-founded Moms for Liberty), winning in a deep red county by 10 points. She founded Educated We Stand in 2024, a national organization dedicated to supporting public education and promoting local voices in school leadership, which raised $375,000 in the 2024 cycle and won nearly 80% of races it endorsed. Her Senate campaign focused on affordability, healthcare access, and education advocacy.
Joshua Weil was an Orlando-area public school educator and Democratic candidate who announced his Senate candidacy in June 2025 but withdrew on July 31, 2025, citing health concerns. Weil, 40, taught mathematics and science in Orange and Osceola counties and rose to prominence after raising approximately $15 million in a special congressional election for Florida's 6th Congressional District in April 2025, where he lost to Republican Randy Fine by 14 percentage points. Despite the loss in a heavily Republican district, Democrats viewed his performance as stronger-than-expected. Weil withdrew from the Senate race due to recurring symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition affecting muscle tissue that had required hospitalization in 2021-2022.
Hector Mujica is a Venezuelan-American tech executive who left his position at Google to run for Florida's U.S. Senate seat as a Democrat but withdrew from the race on April 5, 2026, to instead run for Congress in Florida's 28th Congressional District. Mujica, 36, worked as Head of Economic Opportunity at Google.org for 13 years handling disaster response and grant distribution across the Americas. He is a first-generation American with parents who left Venezuela for Broward County and have backgrounds in faith-based community service.
Alexander Vindman is a 50-year-old retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and former National Security Council official who became a national figure during President Trump's first impeachment in 2019 as a key witness testifying about the Ukraine call. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Vindman came to the United States as a refugee at age three when his family fled Soviet persecution. He served 21 years in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, serving in combat roles in Iraq (where he was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart) and later as Director of European Affairs for the National Security Council. After being removed from the NSC in February 2020 following Trump's acquittal, Vindman eventually left the Army and has since worked as a national security commentator and advisor helping veterans run for office. He moved to Broward County, Florida in 2023 with his wife Rachel and their family. Vindman announced his Senate campaign on January 27, 2026, with a record-breaking $1.7 million raised in the first 24 hours.
Angela Nixon is a Democratic state representative from Florida House District 13 (Jacksonville) who announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate on January 22, 2026. She is a fifth-generation Jacksonville native, union organizer, and mother who has served in the Florida House since 2020. Nixon frames her campaign around affordability and cost-of-living issues, arguing that Florida's leadership has ignored families struggling with rising costs for groceries, healthcare, childcare, housing, and property insurance. She distinguishes herself from other Democratic candidates by emphasizing her long-term roots in Florida politics and grassroots organizing experience.
Alexander Vindman is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and former National Security Council official who became nationally prominent as a key witness in President Trump's first impeachment trial. He announced his candidacy for Florida's U.S. Senate seat on January 27, 2026, making him the most prominent Democrat to enter the race. Vindman is a combat veteran who served 21 years in the U.S. Army, including service in Iraq where he was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart. After leaving government, he authored books about his time in the Trump administration and worked as a senior adviser for VoteVets, a Democrat-aligned group that helps elect veterans. He currently resides in Broward County, Florida.
Ashley Moody is a Republican attorney and former Florida Attorney General (2019-2025) who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the U.S. Senate in January 2025 to replace Marco Rubio. She assumed office on January 21, 2025, and was sworn in by Vice President JD Vance alongside Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted. Moody has no announced Republican primary opposition and is heavily favored in the Republican primary. She is the incumbent senator running for the full term.
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Vindman is a 'carpetbagger and a grifter' whose campaign is 'doomed from the start'
RNC opposition to Vindman based on his status as relative newcomer to Florida and his impeachment testimony against Trump
Implied that Vindman is using military rank and impeachment fame to pursue political career without genuine Florida roots
Moody campaign has not issued extensive direct attacks but relies on her incumbent status and Republican base advantages
Nixon was 'handed the seat' (for state house) unlike Nixon's critique that Moody was handed Senate seat
Nixon argued Moody wasn't elected to Senate and shouldn't be treated as legitimate; Moody has similar argument about her appointment
Vindman is a 'carpetbagger' and 'grifter,' transplant to Florida without real roots
GOP attack challenging Vindman's Florida residency (moved to Broward County in 2023) and motivations for running
Vindman is using his Trump testimony for political gain and has no genuine local ties
Republican framing of Vindman as national politician trying to capitalize on national fame rather than serving Florida
Moody is a 'yes' vote for Trump and billionaires, not Florida's senator but 'theirs'
Vindman's campaign theme attacking Moody as Trump loyalist prioritizing billionaire interests over Floridians
Moody caved to big insurance companies on homeowners' insurance crisis; she's a rubber stamp for DeSantis and Trump
Nixon's campaign criticizes Moody's record on property insurance affordability, central campaign issue for Democrats
Moody is 'dangerous' and 'just a rubber stamp for Ron DeSantis and for Donald Trump,' taking marching orders from insurance industries and special interests
Jenkins criticized Moody's career-politician status and ties to special interests before withdrawing and endorsing Vindman
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