The article reports on former Army lieutenant colonel Alex Vindman leveraging Donald Trump’s birthday to draw attention to his U.S. Senate campaign in Florida. Vindman, a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment, sent a fundraising email describing himself as Trump’s “worst nightmare” and arguing that nothing would anger the former president more than seeing him elected to the Senate. The message framed his candidacy as a way to hold Trump accountable, referencing Vindman’s testimony in 2019 regarding Trump’s interactions with Ukraine’s president, which contributed to the impeachment proceedings. Vindman, who served on the National Security Council before being removed following the impeachment episode, is now running as a Democrat for Florida’s Senate seat. The race presents significant challenges for Vindman, as he must first win a Democratic primary that includes candidates such as state Representative Angie Nixon. If successful, he would face Republican Senator Ashley Moody, who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis after Marco Rubio left the seat to become Secretary of State. Moody has Trump’s endorsement and is seen as the frontrunner in a state that has leaned increasingly Republican in recent elections. Florida has not elected a Democratic senator since 2012, and Republicans hold a substantial voter registration advantage. The article also highlights conflicting polling data. Vindman’s campaign has cited surveys showing a tight race, while independent polls generally show Moody leading by several points. Despite the uphill battle, Vindman’s campaign strategy aims to nationalize the race by linking it directly to Trump, hoping to energize donors and Democratic voters. The piece frames his messaging as a deliberate attempt to position himself as a symbolic challenger to Trump’s political influence. Overall, the article situates Vindman’s comments within a broader, highly competitive Senate race in Florida, emphasizing both the symbolic political messaging and the structural advantages held by Republicans.

via The Hill News — A Republican president’s approval ratings are stuck in the mid-30s as Americans grapple with an unpopular war with Iran that has raised gas prices above $4 per gallon. In past midterm cycles, that would lay the groundwork for Democrats to feel optimistic about picking up a Senate seat in Florida, especially against a GOP incumbent…

via World news | The Guardian — Democratic Senate hopeful says experience of being key witness in Trump’s first impeachment makes him right choice for Florida Alex Vindman is not a man to hold a grudge. Ask him about the bullying, intimidation and retribution meted out by Donald Trump and Maga acolytes following his appearance as a key witness in the first of the president’s two first-term impeachments, and he almost shrugs it off. “For people that know anything about me, I basically smile all the time,” he says. Continue read