Obama endorses Angie Nixon for Florida Senate, and David Jolly for governor, in Saturday videos

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon in Florida's U.S. Senate race on Saturday, releasing a one-minute video urging voters to back her. Nixon is challenging Republican Sen. Ashley Moody. The Hill reported that Obama also backed David Jolly, the Democratic nominee for governor, and that both candidates shared his videos on X that morning, less than two weeks before the midterm elections. In the video, Obama said real change starts when regular folks stand up for what is right, and that Nixon has spent her career standing up for people. He praised her fight against redistricting efforts favoring Republicans and her support for a $15 minimum wage. Nixon, a Democratic Socialists of America member, said she was honored. She beat Alex Vindman, who had a large fundraising advantage, in August's primary. Obama was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win Florida.

Politico, the left-leaning outlet, leads with the endorsement itself, calling Nixon a progressive insurgent and highlighting the one-minute video and Obama's "real change" message. Its excerpt does not mention Moody, Nixon's racism comments or the DSA. The Washington Examiner, on the right, covers the same endorsement and the same quote but puts Nixon's circumstances in its headline. It says the backing followed her claim that perceptions of Florida as racist had held back Democratic support, and it calls the race an uphill battle in a red state. It also adds her DSA membership, the Vindman primary win and Obama's past Florida success. Both sides agree on the date, the video, the "progressive insurgent" label and the Senate race. They differ in emphasis: Politico presents a straightforward boost for a progressive candidate, while the Examiner stresses her complaint to party leadership and her slim odds. The Hill's coverage differs mainly by including Jolly's endorsement and the timing.