U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will visit The Moon in Tallahassee on Sunday for a rally supporting state Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon. The stop is part of a four-stop weekend tour across Florida, drawing varied reactions from local university students as national political figures converge on the region.
Political Figures and State Primaries
Sanders, who was born in Brooklyn in 1941, serves as the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history. He is currently in his fourth term in the U.S. Senate for Vermont after spending 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. His legislative focus has centered on working families, the shrinking middle class, and wealth inequality, running for president as a Democrat in 2016 and 2020 while maintaining his independent status.
Angie Nixon was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020, representing parts of the Jacksonville area. Known for her progressive activism—ranging from protests against Gov. Ron DeSantis to bringing a megaphone into legislative sessions—Nixon gained national attention during the Senate primary. She raised approximately $1 million compared to opponent Alex Vidman’s $16.3 million dollars, and is often associated with the Democratic Socialist Movement.
Florida State University Student Perspectives
The visit has sparked discussion on the campus of Florida State University. Jordan Brown, an FSU American politics and policy major, told the FSView that hosting a major Northeastern political figure in a mid-sized Southern city is a significant event for Tallahassee, regardless of political agreement with the senator.
Other students voiced sharp opposition to the democratic socialist platform. Dylan Knaggs, an FSU political science and criminology major and constitutional conservative, stated he fundamentally opposes the economic philosophy of the movement, arguing that published platforms advocating for restructuring federal institutions threaten the republic’s founding principles. However, Knaggs added that he looks forward to hearing the speakers as an advocate for free speech and civil discourse.
Kate Murdock, an FSU criminology major and Nixon campaign intern, offered a different perspective to the FSView regarding how the candidate handles her political label.
Tallahassee’s Hub of Political Discourse
Tallahassee has increasingly served as a center for political events, hosting two gubernatorial town halls at Florida A&M University and a speech by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson at FSU. Nixon has also intersected local and federal politics by endorsing Tallahassee mayoral candidate Jeremy Matlow.
Doors for the rally at The Moon open at 6 p.m., with Sanders scheduled to speak at 8 p.m.
