On Wednesday, after Democratic socialist candidate Angie Nixon was victorious in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, MS NOW reporter Alex Tabet worried that Cubans in Florida would not vote for Nixon because of Republicans’ “incorrect conflation of communism and Democratic socialism.”
Tabet joined new MS NOW host Peter Alexander’s show, State of Play, live from Florida after the primary.
Alexander asked about Nixon, whom he called an “unfamiliar name,” and wondered if Democrats were “bullish about her campaign or anxious about what it may mean in a red state.”
On Wednesday, after DSA candidate Angie Nixon won Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, MS NOW reporter Alex Tabet worried that Cubans in Florida will not vote for Nixon because of Republicans’ “conflation, an incorrect conflation, of communism and democratic socialism.” pic.twitter.com/7nHsr7IESE
— Nick (@nspin310) August 19, 2026
Tabet responded and said there was a “skittishness here on the ground in Florida.”
He noted how there was “about a million and a half more registered Republicans than Democrats” in the state, which has now voted for Trump three times, with his 2024 victory margin at 13.1 percent.
Tabet then turned towards the conversation of Cuban voters in the state, who fled a Fidel Castro-led communist Cuba for Florida. He stated, “You also have about 1.6 million members of the Cuban diaspora. Those Cubans often lean conservative. Many of them have a strong aversion towards communism.”
But Tabet, in a scornful tone, moved to claim there may be a false attack on Nixon by Republicans because of a false “conflation”:
What we’ve been hearing from Republican politicians, from President Trump on down, is a conflation, an incorrect conflation, of communism and Democratic socialism.
He then worried, “If that messaging sticks, that could be a serious issue for Angie Nixon.”
As for the false conflation, the official Democratic Socialists of America released a statement last week that, in their own words, “commemorates the centenary of Fidel Castro.”
Top DSA-aligned influencer and far-left streamer Hasan Piker, whom Nixon claimed to have never heard of, has called Fidel Castro and Che Guevara “lions” and added, “They were revolutionary heroes.”
To close out his report, Tabet noted the loss of DSA candidate Oliver Larkin, and said, “That was the DSA’s big hope on Tuesday, but Oliver Larkin got absolutely rocked, lost by almost 30 points last night.”
Tabet could label Republican attacks as an “incorrect conflation,” but with DSA policies and members with affinities towards communists like Castro, it seemed to be fair game, especially in a state that has shifted heavily Republican in recent years, like Florida.
The transcript is below. Click "expand":
MS NOW’s State of Play
August 19, 2026
11:04:36 AM Eastern
(...)
PETER ALEXANDER: The Senate primary. You got the Democratic socialist Angie Nixon. America's talking about her today. An unfamiliar name. She scored a surprise win against Alexander Vindman despite a massive fundraising difference between the two. Are Democrats - they're bullish about her campaign or anxious about what it may mean in a red state?
ALEX TABET: Well, Peter, there is a skittishness here on the ground in Florida. I just got off the phone with a Democratic strategist here in the state who reminded me that the general election electorate versus the primary electorate is very different here in Florida
In Florida, you've got about a million and a half more registered Republicans than Democrats. You also have about 1.6 million members of the Cuban diaspora. Those Cubans often lean conservative. Many of them have a strong aversion towards communism.
What we’ve been hearing from Republican politicians, from President Trump on down, is a conflation, an incorrect conflation, of communism and democratic socialism. If that messaging sticks, that could be a serious issue for Angie Nixon.
At the same time, Peter, all the chatter about DSA candidates here in Florida leading up to Tuesday seemed to surround Oliver Larkin, who is trying to unseat Jared Moskowitz in the 25th congressional district.
That was the DSA’s big hope on Tuesday, but Oliver Larkin got absolutely rocked, lost by almost 30 points last night. It was Angie Nixon who prevailed and provided this upset. So, it's Angie Nixon's camp, which is saying, "Underestimate me at your own peril.” Peter?
(...)
