Impeachment Witness Alex Vindman Launches Democratic Senate Bid Against Appointed Sen. Ashley Moody in Florida Special Election
Alex Vindman, the Army veteran who testified in former President Trump’s first impeachment, has formally launched a Democratic bid for the 2026 special U.S. Senate election in Florida to challenge GOP Sen. Ashley Moody, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to complete Marco Rubio’s term. Vindman’s two‑minute launch ad titled “Patriot” uses footage of Minneapolis shootings and accuses Trump‑aligned forces of acting as “thug militias” amid a “reign of terror and retribution,” a campaign entry that comes as Trump carried Florida by 13 points in 2024 and Republicans hold a 53–47 Senate majority; Moody had not publicly commented as of Tuesday morning.
📌 Key Facts
- Alex Vindman, best known as a Trump impeachment witness, has formally announced a Democratic run for the U.S. Senate in Florida.
- Vindman launched his campaign with a two‑minute video ad titled "Patriot."
- The launch ad includes protest footage of the Minneapolis shootings that killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
- Vindman's ad rhetoric labels Trump-aligned forces "thug militias," warns of a "reign of terror and retribution," and (per MS NOW) ties his bid to the killing of Renee Good, which MS NOW characterized as an ICE killing.
- Vindman is running specifically against appointed GOP Sen. Ashley Moody in the 2026 Florida special election to complete Marco Rubio’s term.
- Moody was appointed to Rubio’s vacated seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis early last year and, as of Tuesday morning, had not publicly commented on Vindman’s entry.
- Political context: Trump carried Florida by 13 points in 2024 and Republicans hold a 53–47 Senate majority, underscoring the uphill nature and high stakes of this race for Democrats.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 27, 2026
5:23 PM
Trump impeachment whistleblower Vindman launches Democratic Senate run in Florida
New information:
- Fox piece confirms Vindman is formally running specifically against appointed GOP Sen. Ashley Moody in the 2026 Florida special election to complete Marco Rubio’s term.
- Details that Trump carried Florida by 13 points in 2024 and Republicans currently hold a 53–47 Senate majority, underscoring the uphill nature and stakes of this race.
- Article notes Vindman’s launch video includes footage of the Minneapolis federal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good and his rhetoric about 'thug militias' and a 'reign of terror and retribution' under Trump.
4:00 PM
Trump impeachment witness Alex Vindman launches Senate bid in Florida
New information:
- Confirms Vindman has formally announced his candidacy via a two‑minute launch ad titled 'Patriot.'
- Clarifies that Ashley Moody was appointed to Rubio’s vacated seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis early last year.
- Adds Vindman’s specific language calling Trump‑aligned forces 'thug militias' and tying his bid to the ICE killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, using protest footage in his ad.
- Notes that Moody had not publicly commented on Vindman’s entry as of Tuesday morning.