For Bryant Monre, the rising cost of living in Florida is one of the biggest reasons he wants to see a change in the state’s political leadership.
“I am tired of spending $5 on gas. The prices in Florida have gotten way too out of hand,” Monre said.
Monre is among the Florida voters supporting Democratic candidate Angie Nixon in the Nov. 3 U.S. Senate special election.
Nixon, a Florida state representative from Jacksonville, is challenging Republican Ashley Moody for the Senate seat.
Nixon, elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020, has built her campaign around lowering costs and expanding access to resources for working families. Her platform includes Medicare for All, affordable housing and protections for workers.
Monre said he appreciates Nixon’s personality and believes she is more authentic than her opponent.
“I have never seen a candidate like Angie Nixon,” Monre said. “I love how much of her character she shows.”
He also said he hopes Nixon can bring the same kind of change to Florida that Zohran Mamdani has brought to New York.
For Shani Brewer, her support for Nixon comes from concerns about the direction of the country and how government decisions affect families.
As someone with immigrant parents and a family member who depends on government assistance, Brewer said immigration enforcement and potential changes to Medicaid are personal concerns.
“The whole thing with ICE, it’s a rising concern for me,” Brewer said.
Brewer said she believes Nixon has been more vocal about issues affecting Florida residents, particularly health care access and government assistance.
“I love the fact that she’s fighting for us,” Brewer said.
Moody, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January 2025, previously served as Florida’s attorney general. Her campaign emphasizes border security, support for law enforcement, economic opportunity and conservative values.
For Rolf Anderson, a member of Florida State University’s College Republicans, those conservative values are a major reason he supports Moody.
For Anderson, voting in these upcoming elections is essential.
“It’s all of our civic duty, and it’s our civic right to vote,” Anderson said.
Anderson said he generally supports conservative and traditional family values, particularly when it comes to social issues.
He also identified the cost of living, immigration and employment opportunities for younger Americans as issues the next senator should prioritize.
Ana Kustaif, another Moody supporter, said her upbringing and personal beliefs influenced her decision.
“I support Ashley Moody because I was raised Republican, and I believe in core family values,” Kustaif said.
Kustaif also expressed support for stricter border laws and opposition to abortion, saying those positions influenced her decision to support Moody.
From rising gas prices and health care costs to immigration and conservative values, each voter had different expectations for what Florida needs from its next senator.