As Election Day approaches, discussion has begun about the three candidates for U.S. Senate. Ashley Moody, representing the Republican Party, Angie Nixon, representing the Democratic Party, and Neil J. Gillespie, running with no party affiliation, are seeking the position. On Nov. 3, Florida voters will decide who will represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. senators are responsible for creating and passing federal laws alongside the House of Representatives. Senators also confirm presidential nominations, approve treaties and hold impeachment trials for federal officials. With these powers and responsibilities, the Senate helps decide what laws are passed in the United States. Congress also has the power to declare war, with both the Senate and House of Representatives involved in that decision.
Sen. Ashley Moody began practicing commercial litigation at Holland & Knight, a law firm. Later, she became a federal prosecutor, handling drug, fraud and firearm offenses. In 2006, Moody was elected as a judge in Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit. From 2019 to 2025, Moody served as Florida’s 38th attorney general, focusing on prosecuting human traffickers and supporting law enforcement. During her tenure, she served on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice during President Donald Trump’s first administration. In January 2025, she was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Before her career in politics, Angie Nixon was a community activist and graduated from the University of Florida in 2007 with a degree in political science. In 2020, Nixon was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 14 until 2022, when redistricting changed her district to District 13. She then defeated independent candidate La’Ciara Masline and replaced Tracie Davis as District 13’s representative. In 2026, Nixon joined the Democratic Socialists of America.
Neil J. Gillespie is a candidate with no party affiliation running for U.S. Senate. He is the founder and director of Justice Network, an organization focused on advocacy, education and helping people address legal issues. Gillespie previously worked as a licensed motor vehicle dealer in Pennsylvania before moving to Florida in 1993. He has emphasized government accountability, protecting constitutional rights and reducing the influence of political parties. Gillespie also supports improving access to health care while allowing people to make their own choices about coverage.
In terms of economic relief and affordability, Ashley Moody supports lower taxes, fewer regulations on businesses and reducing government spending. Regarding health care, Moody voted against advancing an extension of expanded Affordable Care Act tax credits, which help eligible people afford health insurance. On the other hand, Angie Nixon supports working families by making child care and housing more affordable, raising the minimum wage and increasing taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations to fund public programs. She also supports Medicare for All, a proposal intended to provide health care coverage to everyone, and protecting programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Gillespie focuses on government accountability and individual rights. He has proposed national health coverage that would allow individuals to opt out. The three candidates have different approaches to how the government should address the needs of Florida residents.
Florida’s U.S. Senate election matters to the community because the person elected will help make decisions that affect people’s daily lives. The candidates have different ideas about economic relief and health care, which could influence how much families pay in taxes, whether people can afford health insurance and what support is available for working people. The senator will also vote on federal laws and budgets that affect jobs, education, health care and other important issues in Florida. By learning about each candidate’s positions on these issues, Florida citizens can make an informed decision about who they want to represent their concerns and needs.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited to include additional information about candidate Neil J. Gillespie to provide readers with a complete overview of the candidates appearing on Florida’s U.S. Senate ballot.
