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Ashley Moody
FL · At-large
In plain English: One of Florida's two U.S. senators. Senators vote on federal laws, confirm judges and cabinet officials, and approve treaties.
Term
2025-01-21 – 2029-01-03
Next election
2026-11-03Special election for the remainder of Marco Rubio's term (ends January 2029). Moody won the Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with nearly 80%; faces State Rep. Angie Nixon (D) and Neil Gillespie (NPA). Polls range from ties to Moody +11; PolitiKool average Oct 15: Moody +7.1. Forecasters rate the race Likely-to-Solid R.
Running for
U.S. Senate (FL), 2026 special election
Committees
Senate Committee on the Judiciary; Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Senate Committee on Armed Services; Joint Economic Committee; Senate Special Committee on Aging
Ashley Moody (R) is the junior U.S. Senator from Florida, appointed in January 2025 to the seat vacated by Marco Rubio, and the Republican nominee in the Nov 3, 2026 special election. She served as Florida Attorney General (2019-2025), a judge on Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit (2006-2018, elected at 31), and an Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting drug, firearm, and fraud cases. She faces State Rep. Angie Nixon (D) and Neil Gillespie (NPA) for the remainder of Rubio's term (ends January 2029).
Bio source: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/16/floridas-us-senator-a-voter-guide-to-the-2026-general-election/91929838007/
1. Follow the money, in plain English
What we don’t have yet: verified donor records for this leader. Pending donor data source: will be backfilled; never estimated
Every money claim on this page carries its source and its confidence level; the full item-by-item money record is in the evidence below.
2. What they promised
Each promise is tracked against documented votes and actions. A status is set only from the record; where a promise has not been tested yet, the card says so.
- PROMISEIn progress
"I will fight for President Trump to deliver the 'America First' Agenda on day one." Status so far: She voted Yea in 2025 on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed. She also voted Nay in 2025-2026 on measures to restrict presidential emergency tariff powers, and those measures did not pass.
- PROMISEIn progress
"I've been delivering wins for you, for the people, keeping more money in your pockets, no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime, child investment accounts for every American baby born." Status so far: She voted Yea in 2025 on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed. Her record notes the tax provisions she cited in the speech, including no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, and no tax on overtime, were in that bill.
Verification note: The cited tax provisions were in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Moody voted for in 2025. No verdict set; track-record verdict rollout is held pending owner review.
- PROMISEIn progress
Top priorities: "supporting law enforcement, economic prosperity, and American sovereignty"; self-described "America First fighter." Status so far: On Oct 13, 2026, she announced legislation to let citizens stay anonymous when collecting reward money for crime tips leading to arrests, at an event with law enforcement professionals in Tampa. In September 2026, she sponsored S. 5610, which limits the ability of people posing a national-security threat to receive and enforce patents.
- PROMISEIn progress
Lower prescription drug costs and fight fentanyl trafficking. Status so far: On Feb 5, 2026, she cosponsored S. 3788, which requires drug labeling to include the original manufacturer and supply-chain information.
Verification note: Corroborated by S.3788 cosponsorship (drug-labeling supply-chain bill). No verdict set.
- PROMISEIn progress
Tougher immigration enforcement, increased border security, and policies aimed at strengthening U.S. sovereignty.
3. The evidence
Everything on this page comes from the record below, grouped so you can find things: what they said, what they did, money and influence, and what happened after. Every item carries its date, its source, and the date we last verified it.
Open the full record ↓
What they said
- STATEMENT
At her Aug 18 primary victory speech, quoted her sister: "sometimes you have to fight like crazy to fight crazy, and we are staring down crazy and the socialists today."
- STATEMENT
On the Democratic Socialists of America, which her opponent Angie Nixon joined in June: "many would call it a communist party." Earlier in the summer she referred to Democrats as "anarchist psychos."
- STATEMENT
On her Senate opponent: "Angie Nixon and her comrades want to destroy this country and everything it is built on... I am not exaggerating."
- STATEMENT
Moody announced new legislation to let citizens remain anonymous when collecting reward money for crime tips leading to arrests: "It's National Crime Prevention Month and I joined dozens of law enforcement professionals today in Tampa to thank them for all they do to protect Floridians. ... I worked to create a statewide tip hotline **TIPS as Attorney General, and as Senator, I'm introducing new legislation to help citizens remain anonymous when collecting reward money for helping officers make an arrest." The legislation is endorsed by the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, Florida Sheriffs Association, Southeastern Crime Stoppers Association, and National Fraternal Order of Police.
- FACT
Mason-Dixon poll (field Sept 28–Oct 1, n=625 likely voters statewide, ±4 pts): Moody 50%, Angie Nixon 40%, 2% other, 8% undecided. Moody leads Central Florida 54–35 and Southwest Florida 57–32; Nixon leads Southeast Florida 48–42; Tampa Bay tied 44–44. Party loyalty: Republicans back Moody 91–3, Democrats back Nixon 87–5; independents break Nixon 41–35 with 16% undecided.
Verification note: Field dates Sept 28–Oct 1 (partly before window); results published in window.
- FACT
ActiVote Oct 15 Florida U.S. Senate poll (field Sept 27–Oct 15, median field date Oct 6, n=400 likely midterm voters, avg expected error 4.9%): Moody leads Nixon by 6.2%. Moody takes 95% of Republicans, Nixon 93% of Democrats; independents favor Nixon 67–33 but Republicans make up a larger share of the likely electorate; Moody leads the center 63–37.
Verification note: ActiVote is a polling app, not a traditional pollster; subsample margins carry larger error.
- FACT
Moody has rejected three debate proposals from news organizations and universities to face Democratic opponent Angie Nixon; no televised Senate debate is scheduled; the only time going back decades in Florida that no TV debates will be held for the general election.
- STATEMENT
Responding to Nixon's CNN comments about wanting her jailed over the Hope Florida controversy, Moody pointed to Café Resistance, Nixon's Jacksonville bookstore, saying Nixon "quotes cop killers and runs a book store with a SHRINE to people who have killed law enforcement!" and added: "I am the wife of a law enforcement officer. Most people think it's CRAZY what she's promoting. IT'S PERSONAL TO ME."
Verification note: Partisan relay via clips circulated by partisan accounts; no neutral transcript of the Fox segment independently found. Characterization of the bookstore display is disputed by Nixon (calls it historical education).
- STATEMENT
In a new campaign ad contrasting her law-enforcement record with Nixon, Moody says: "My husband is a police officer, and I've spent my career putting criminals behind bars. My opponent puts them on pedestals." The ad references Nixon's praise of Assata Shakur and a mural of Shakur and other Black activists at Café Resistance.
Verification note: Ad content reported by The Floridian; not independently confirmed against the campaign's own social channels.
What they did
- VOTE
S. 2296: Schumer Amdt. No. 3849 to FY2026 NDAA: direct the Attorney General to make Epstein documents public Yea on motion to table (agreed to 51-49)
Verification note: Only recorded Senate floor vote on releasing the Epstein files. 'Deciding vote' is rhetorical (51-49, no tie-break). Hawley and Paul voted Nay with all Democrats; Rick Scott (R-FL) also Yea.
- VOTE
: One Big Beautiful Bill Act Yea on passage (passed)
Verification note: Vote reported via secondary source; the roll call is a matter of public record.
- VOTE
: Withdrawing U.S. armed forces from Iran (war-powers measure) Nay on withdrawal of forces (failed)
Verification note: Vote reported via secondary source. Drop Site's '12 war-powers votes' count is not independently verified.
- VOTE
: Measures to restrict presidential emergency tariff powers Nay on restricting emergency tariff powers (failed)
Verification note: Vote reported via secondary source; the roll call is a matter of public record.
- FACT
Sponsor of S.978, the HELPER Act of 2025.
- FACT
Sponsor of S.5610 (Sept 2026): limits the ability of persons posing a national-security threat to receive and enforce patents. Also sponsored S.3843 (Feb 2026) directing frost/cold-weather crop-insurance research.
- FACT
Cosponsor of S.3788 (Rick Scott): requires drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply-chain information.
Money and influence
- DATA UNAVAILABLE
Pending donor data source: will be backfilled; never estimated
- FACT
Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, and Rep. Byron Donalds for the 2026 special election.
- FACT
Endorsed by the Florida Fraternal Order of Police, the NRA Political Victory Fund, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and roughly 64 county sheriffs. Won the Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with nearly 80% of the vote.
What happened after
- OUTCOME
Elected Florida Attorney General in 2018 and reelected in 2022, serving 2019-2025. Chaired the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking; portfolio included human trafficking, opioid litigation, and consumer protection. Status: completed
- OUTCOME
Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the U.S. Senate seat vacated when Marco Rubio became Secretary of State; sworn in January 21, 2025, becoming the second woman to represent Florida in the Senate. Status: completed
- PRESS CLAIM
Drop Site News reported Moody received $50,000 from five Epstein-connected donors (Band $14,000; Schwarzman $12,000; Catsimatidis $10,000; Rowan $7,000; Lauder $7,000). The Epstein connections of the five check out independently; the dollar amounts and dates rest solely on Drop Site. Moody's campaign did not respond to a request for comment. None of the five has been accused of participating in Epstein's crimes; appearing in his files or books is not evidence of wrongdoing. Data unavailable on whether the donations were kept or returned. Status: single-source amounts; donor ties verified
- FACT
As Florida AG, Moody's office ran the FDLE probe (Aug 2019-May 2021) into Epstein's work-release arrangement and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's prior handling of the case; FDLE concluded no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Former FBI agent Stuart Kaplan criticized the probe for using no search warrants, subpoenas, or grand jury: it 'solely depended upon the cooperation and memory of those involved.' Status: verified; criticism on the record
Sources
- Tallahassee Democrat: Florida's U.S. Senator voter guide (Oct 16, 2026)
- FSView/FSUNews: Who is Ashley Moody? (Sept 2026)
- News-Journal: Florida candidates messaging test (Sept 2026)
- PantherNOW: What to Know About Florida's 2026 Senate Race (Sept 2026)
- Senate roll call vote 119-1-00512 (Sept 10, 2025): motion to table Schumer Amdt. 3849 (Epstein documents)
- Drop Site News: Moody Epstein work-release probe and donors (Oct 15, 2026)
- Legisletter: Sen. Ashley Moody voting record and committees
- Ballotpedia: 2026 United States Senate special election in Florida
- moody.senate.gov (official press release)
- Lake County Ledger
- ActiVote
- Tallahassee Democrat
- The Daily BS
- The Floridian
- Duval Times
Evidence
Related receipts
No receipts filed for this leader yet.
Every factual item carries its source, date, and last-verified stamp. Items marked unavailable are genuinely missing. Never filled in.