Angie Nixon Defends Cuba Answer After Bipartisan Florida Criticism

Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon is facing sharp criticism from both political parties following her response to a question about the nature of the Cuban government. The exchange occurred during an interview with CBS News, where she was asked directly if she considers Cuba a dictatorship. Nixon told the network that while she has not visited the island, she has spoken with Cubans who described it that way and that she believes their accounts.

The question of Cuba's governance status carries particular weight in Florida, a state with a large population of Cuban exiles and their descendants. Nixon, who joined the Democratic Socialists of America several months ago, has been campaigning for statewide office amid heightened scrutiny of her party affiliation. Her comments on the island's political structure have now become a central point of contention in her campaign.

Nixon initially reacted to CBS News' social media post by calling it a failure of editorial reporting. She stated on X that the network's characterization of her answer as a refusal to acknowledge the government's nature was incorrect. She emphasized that she clearly stated she had not been to Cuba personally but relied on the testimony of Cubans she had spoken with. She described the initial claim that she declined to answer as categorically false and misinformation.

In response to her critique, CBS deleted its original post. The network then reposted the interview segment with an editor's note. The note acknowledged that the earlier version did not accurately portray Rep. Nixon's answer. This correction did not, however, stop the wave of criticism from spreading among lawmakers in both parties.

Phil Ehr, the Democratic nominee for Florida's 28th Congressional District, was among the first to object. Ehr cited conversations with Cuban American voters during his visits to early voting sites in South Florida. He described many of those voters as frightened by Nixon's position. Ehr stated that he would not stand behind Nixon or defend her remarks. He added that if the Democratic Party is unwilling to condemn the remarks, he would do so himself.

Ehr labeled Cuba a communist dictatorship in a separate statement. He argued that there is nothing progressive about making excuses for such governments. His comments reflect the concern among some Florida Democrats that the nomination may alienate key voting blocs in the state.

Elliott Rodriguez, the Democratic nominee for Florida's 27th Congressional District, also voiced disagreement. Rodriguez noted that while he and Nixon agree on many issues, the status of Cuba is a matter of fact rather than opinion. He pointed to political prisoners, repression, and the deaths of Cubans seeking freedom as evidence supporting the definition of the government as a dictatorship.

Republican officials joined the criticism. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., suggested that Nixon's answer reflects a wider issue within the Democratic Party. He compared her inability to define a dictatorship to other perceived gaps in party definitions. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., called the response the craziest thing he has ever heard. He stated that the Castro regime is obviously a dictatorship and expressed sadness at what he sees as the party being consumed by socialism.

The controversy follows Nixon's earlier clarification of her stance on DSA's positions. In an August interview with CBS Miami, she was asked about the organization's praise of Fidel Castro. Nixon said she does not believe he should be praised. She added that she does not agree with every position taken by the Democratic Socialists of America.