Former National Security Council staffer and Army veteran Alexander Vindman — who testified against Donald Trump ahead his first impeachment in 2019 — is joining the Democratic race for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat.
The seat was previously held by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill the vacancy last year. Vindman’s entrance could bring more national attention and funds into a race that’s a long shot for Democrats.
Vindman’s campaign launch video, released Tuesday, focuses on Trump, calling Moody a “yes vote” for the president. It also includes footage of Saturday’s shooting of Minnesota intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers.
“This president unleashed a reign of terror and retribution not just against me and my family, but against all of us,” Vindman says in the video. “Today our country is in chaos, thug militias attacking citizens.”
He’s the latest politician to inject Pretti’s killing into Florida politics, after Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly gave an impassioned speech to the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida: “Minnesota matters in the state of Florida.”
Vindman also criticized Moody’s stock trades, corruption in Washington and billionaires profiting from the Trump administration in his campaign advertisement. He touts his experience as a 21-year Army veteran and lieutenant colonel. He is also the former director for European Affairs on the National...
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