Democrat Angie Nixon Faces Bipartisan Backlash Over Cuba Dictatorship Comments

Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon is facing significant criticism from both Democrats and Republicans after expressing uncertainty about whether Cuba is a dictatorship. The controversy emerged months after Nixon joined the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

When directly asked by CBS News if she considered Cuba a dictatorship, Nixon responded, "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." Nixon later stated that her remarks were misinterpreted and that she believed Cubans she had spoken with who described the country as such.

CBS News subsequently deleted and reposted its initial social media post about the exchange, adding an editor's note that the earlier version "did not accurately portray Rep. Nixon's answer." However, Nixon's original statement continued to draw fire.

Phil Ehr, the Democratic nominee in Florida's 28th Congressional District, expressed his concerns, tying them to conversations with Cuban-American voters. "I can't get past this after spending a week at early voting sites and seeing firsthand how frightened so many Cuban Americans are," Ehr wrote on social media. He further stated, "Cuba being a communist dictatorship is not a matter of opinion. It is a fact." Ehr declared he would not defend Nixon's remarks and would condemn them if the Democratic Party did not.

Elliott Rodriguez, the Democratic nominee in Florida's 27th Congressional District, also distanced himself from Nixon's stance. "Cuba being a dictatorship is not a matter of opinion. It is a fact," Rodriguez stated, citing political prisoners and repression.

Republicans also strongly criticized Nixon's comments. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., questioned her ability to define a dictatorship, drawing a parallel to other debates within the Democratic Party. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., called Nixon's response "the craziest thing I've ever heard," asserting, "Of COURSE the Castro regime is a dictatorship." Donalds added that the Democratic Party is "fully consumed by socialism."

The controversy is not the first time Nixon's affiliation with the DSA has raised questions. In August, when asked about the DSA's praise for Fidel Castro, Nixon stated, "I don't believe he's someone that should be praised," while also noting that she does not agree with every position held by the DSA.