President Donald Trump celebrated Alexander Vindman’s defeat Tuesday night after Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon pulled off a major upset in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.
According to Fox News, Nixon, a progressive backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated Vindman despite being dramatically outspent.
She will now face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November in a race that could draw national attention.
"SleazeBag Vindman loses tonight to a Radical Left Lunatic," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "How cool is that???"
Vindman became a nationally known figure during the first Trump administration after serving on the National Security Council, something Trump mentioned in a post shared Wednesday.
The retired Army lieutenant colonel testified during the 2019 House impeachment inquiry about Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Florida primary result marked a sharp setback for Vindman, who had significant support from Democratic establishment figures.
Federal filings show his campaign raised about $16.27 million, compared with roughly $1 million for Nixon.
Despite the nearly 16-to-1 fundraising advantage, Vindman lost by about 12 percentage points.
Nixon's campaign was built around her reputation as a progressive activist and state lawmaker. She gained national attention during Florida's congressional redistricting fight after using a bright pink megaphone on the state House floor to protest a Republican-backed map.
Nixon defended the protest despite receiving a reprimand, saying, "fighting for democracy is more important than having decorum."
Her campaign later turned the moment into a rallying point, urging supporters to "make sure you wear your pink to the polls."
The November race will be Nixon's first general election contest for the Senate, while Moody will seek re-election to the seat she currently holds.
Moody previously served as Florida attorney general before Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her to fill the Senate vacancy created when Marco Rubio became secretary of state.
The matchup will put Moody's record on crime, fraud and public safety against Nixon's progressive platform, which includes support for expanded social programs and government-run health care.
Republicans also pointed to Florida's rapid primary vote count as a political advantage.
RNC spokeswoman Ally Triolo praised the state for quickly producing election results, while RNC Chairman Joe Gruters argued that Florida's system could serve as a model for other states.
For Democrats, Nixon's victory adds another high-profile upset to a primary season in which heavily funded establishment candidates have struggled against progressive challengers.
The Florida Senate race now moves to the November general election, with Republicans seeking to keep Moody in the seat and Democrats hoping Nixon can turn her primary upset into another surprise.