TALLAHASSEE — A rematch for a Hillsborough-based state legislative seat — won by an underfunded newcomer in a shocking upset seven months ago — is turning ugly.
Former GOP state Rep. Josie Tomkow, who lost her bid for the Senate seat in March, approved flyers accusing Democratic state Sen. Brian Nathan of being a socialist, splashing quotes from a communist party across his image.
Nathan, a Navy veteran, has called the allegations “lies,” denying any affiliation with socialist or communist groups.
The mailers were paid for by the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. Republicans are hoping that the cattle rancher — with her vast cash advantage — can unseat Nathan in the general election.
The mailers play off an effort among Republicans nationwide to tie Democratic candidates to the most left-leaning parts of their party. Democrats, meanwhile, have been split about whether more centrist or progressive candidates have a better chance this midterm.
The split can be seen at the top of Florida’s ticket this year; Angie Nixon, the Democrat running for U.S. Senate, is a progressive who joined the Democratic Socialists of America in June, although she said it was to gain grassroots funding for her primary. In the governor’s race, Democrat David Jolly — a former GOP congressman —is running as a centrist.
The attack ad against Nathan overlays quotes from the Democratic Socialists of America and the Party for Socialism and Liberation — a communist group — across images of Nathan, a 46-year-old union leader.
“Socialism is the necessary stage between capitalism and communism,” reads a quote from the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
In a statement to the Times/Herald, a spokesperson for the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee connected Nathan to Nixon.
“Brian Nathan and Angie Nixon are endorsed by Florida Rising; an anti-cop, anti-capitalist, Socialist organization,” spokesperson Erin Isaac said. “He’s rallied with Socialists. He’s praised Socialists. He’s campaigning with Socialists. What would you call him?”
Nathan’s campaign manager said that Nathan has never met Nixon, and denied that Florida Rising, a leftist group, is socialist. The campaign pointed to Florida Rising’s focus on “building political power within marginalized groups.”
“My opponent … knows she can’t stand on (her) record so she’s making things up about me instead. It’s unfortunate, but too often, that’s how politics work,” Nathan said, adding that he doesn’t care how many “lies” he has to “combat” to win.
A Gallup poll from September found that 65% of Democrats nationwide view socialism favorably compared to 14% of Republicans. Hispanic voters in particular, regardless of party, tended to view socialism unfavorably.
Tomkow and Nathan are vying for Senate District 14, which spans West Tampa, Town ’N Country and Carrollwood. The area backed President Donald Trump by 7 percentage points in 2024 and leaned even redder by voter registration.
A low-turnout March special election was triggered when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed then-state Sen. Jay Collins to lieutenant governor. Nathan won then by half a percentage point — despite Tomkow outspending Nathan 10-to-1 with the full force of the Florida GOP machine standing behind her.
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