Dem Socialist Pressed By CNN to Explain Why Florida Is ‘Racist’ — After Another Black Lawmaker Raised $80 Million

CNN host Victor Blackwell pressed Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon to explain her claim Democrats are hesitant to give her money because they believe Florida is “racist” toward Black people — especially when another Black politician was able to raise a ton of money, just a few years ago.

Blackwell asked Nixon about it during the Saturday episode of his CNN show. A day earlier, Nixon told Politico she has heard many people telling her “they think that the state is racist and they’re just hesitant to donate because of it.”

He said her remark reminded him of former Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), who served in Congress from 2017 to 2023 and received plenty of Democratic support during her unsuccessful Senate campaign against Marco Rubio.

“In 2022, she raised $80 million for her campaign for Senate. So Democratic donors have backed a Black woman state wide financially,” Blackwell said. “Why is this about race and not about you?”

Nixon started to reiterate what she told Politico, claiming “a lot of people are saying it, ‘Oh she can never win the state because it’s racist,'” citing Demings’ loss and ex-Vice President Kamala Harris not winning enough votes in the Sunshine State.

The candidate Nixon said her argument to Dem voters is to “not believe the hype” about racism and support her campaign anyway.

Blackwell didn’t seem satisfied with the answer, so he jumped in and asked her it again.

“You say that maybe people aren’t supporting your candidacy with donations because they think Florida is racist,” he said. “They didn’t think that when they donated to Val Demings. Why is the assumption that it’s based on race and it’s not based on you, or your affiliation with DSA, or some of your points, or that they might not know you to the degree that they knew Val Demings?”

Here is the key chunk of Nixon’s longwinded response — which suggested Vice President JD Vance is leaning into the state’s racism:

Because honestly that’s what some of the donors have told me, that they’re concerned they’re concerned about race here in the state of Florida. And Victor, I’ve lived here, you’ve lived here as well, and there is a level of racism here. But the way in which we counter that is by turning out our people, turning out our base, turning out unlikely voters.

There’s a reason JD Vance came down here and said that I needed to get out of this country and that I don’t belong here. There’s a reason that they’re constantly fear mongering. There’s a reason that Ron DeSantis said, when he was running against Andrew Gillum, let’s not “Monkey this up.” 

There’s a reason why there has been an attack on woke. “Stop woke,” right? That is what the underlying, like, issue is.

And so, you know, they feel as though since those two women — those two strong, Black women, were unable to carry this state, that it would be tough for another Black woman to carry this state. And so I’m pushing back on that and letting folks know we are activating people who haven’t been activated before.

Blackwell then followed up by saying it would be “naive” to believe race plays no role in Florida or elections in other states. He then asked her bluntly whether she believed Florida was racist.

Nixon said she felt Florida was a “beautiful place,” had “southern charm,” and was “filled with people are diverse.”

She didn’t answer whether or not she believed it was racist, but said there are some Republicans who are saying “really racist” things about gubernatorial frontrunner Byron Donalds (R).

Nixon’s opponent, Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), has been leading in most polls tracked by The New York Times by anywhere from four to 11 points.

Watch above via First of All with Victor Blackwell.

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