Florida Democrat Senate candidate Angie Nixon reportedly clashed with state party chair Nikki Fried during a tense phone call Friday over Nixon’s socialist ties and the party’s support for her campaign.
Nixon complained that the Florida Democratic Party had not done enough to help her after she defeated Alex Vindman in an upset primary victory earlier this week, Axios reported.
Fried reportedly warned Nixon that her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) could be used against her by Republicans as she campaigns against Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL).
Two people who spoke with Nixon said both women raised their voices during the conversation. A person familiar with Fried’s account denied that Fried yelled and said Nixon was the one shouting.
“Nikki wants her to back away from DSA, from socialism,” a person who spoke with Nixon told Axios. “She’s listening to other people saying that they’re afraid, they’re scared — the Jewish members and the Hispanic caucus. But to Angie, Nikki doesn’t want Angie to be who Angie is. Angie has already done the backing-away.”
The source said Nixon believed the party chair was pressuring her to change her political identity.
“You never gave a care about me from the beginning, and now you’re telling me how to run my campaign?” Nixon reportedly told Fried.
“Stop gaslighting me!” Nixon shouted at another point, according to the source.
A Florida Democratic Party official said party representatives repeatedly tried to reach Nixon’s campaign about working together but often received no response. Nixon’s field staff did join a party campaign call this week, the official said.
The official argued that the DSA affiliation could make it easier for Republicans to misrepresent Nixon’s views before she can define herself to voters.
One person familiar with Nixon’s side called the dispute both an ideological and personal conflict. The source also warned Fried against appearing dismissive toward Nixon, a black woman, because of the possible reaction from black voters.
Another Florida Democrat said Nixon and Fried already had a strained relationship before the primary. According to the official, Fried expected Vindman to win and was making plans for how he could bring Nixon and her supporters into the fold after the election.
“I know Nikki doesn’t like it, but Angie is the engine right now,” the source said. “Angie is the national story, and Nikki just can’t stand it.”
A party source denied that Florida Democrats supported Vindman over Nixon and said the organization remained impartial during the primary.
Read the full article here