Controversy Surrounds Democratic Senate Nominee Angie Nixon’s Comments on Cuba

Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon is finding herself in hot water as she navigates the tricky waters of southern Florida politics, particularly regarding her comments on Cuba, which might distance her from the area’s large Cuban American community.

The issue arose when she was asked a direct question about whether Cuba is a dictatorship. Nixon’s response, which might have seemed straightforward at first, quickly sparked debate. “You know, that is what people have told me. I have never been to Cuba, and so I will have to take their word for it,” she told CBS News.

This question was likely influenced by her affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America, a group that has previously expressed admiration for Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba’s past regime. By qualifying her response with what others have “told” her, Nixon seemed to overlook the well-documented oppressive history of the Cuban government, which has driven many exiles to Florida—“a state shaped by generations of Cuban exiles,” as described in various reports.

Nixon later defended herself on social media against accusations that she avoided labeling Cuba as a dictatorship, which included an initial claim by CBS stating she had dodged the question. “It’s disappointing to have to say this, but CBS News, this is a serious failure of editorial reporting,” she wrote. “I clearly state in this clip that while I have not personally been to Cuba, I have spoken with Cubans who have described it as a dictatorship, and I believe them. To claim I declined to answer the question is categorically false. That is not journalism. It is misinformation.”

CBS eventually retracted its original statement that claimed Nixon had evaded answering the question. However, the criticism continued to pour in from both sides of the political aisle, with many arguing that such fundamental questions shouldn’t need clarification.

One notable critic was Phil Ehr, the Democratic nominee for Florida’s 28th Congressional District. He stated, “Cuba is a communist dictatorship. Anyone seeking to serve in the United States Senate should be able to say those words without hesitation.” He further mentioned that even though Nixon hasn’t been to Gaza, she still labeled the events there as genocide without hesitation.

Ehr took issue with Nixon’s ties to the Democratic Socialists of America, which he noted has sent delegations to Havana and praised the achievements of Cuban socialism. He emphasized that the Cuban population suffers under a regime that restricts fundamental freedoms and imprisons dissenters.

Nixon’s stance has drawn the ire of others in her party as well. Elliott Rodriguez, a Democratic nominee for the 27th Congressional District, remarked that although he finds common ground with Nixon on many issues, their views diverge sharply on Cuba. “Cuba being a dictatorship is not a matter of opinion. It is a fact,” he said, noting the suffering of many in their struggle for freedom.

Republican voices joined in the condemnation, with Scott tweeting about how some of Nixon’s fellow Democrats seem unable to define basic concepts, now including dictatorship. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) went so far as to call Nixon’s answer “the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”

There were earlier concerns about Nixon’s views on Cuba, especially following her tepid response to questions about Fidel Castro, where she stated, “I don’t believe he’s someone that should be praised.” As for how she plans to win over Cuban Americans who may have reservations about her candidacy, she claimed she has “been fighting on the front lines for my entire adult career” for their interests and criticized political opponents for their treatment of undocumented Cubans.

“I am someone who is going to be accessible, ethical, and someone they can trust,” she added.