Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon learned she will stand trial the week of September 21 on misdemeanor charges stemming from her May sit-in outside Gov. Ron DeSantis' Capitol office. Nixon and other protesters occupied the area for several hours while objecting to Florida's newly approved congressional map, which could help Republicans add up to four seats in the U.S. House. Capitol Police arrested Nixon after she refused an order to leave. Nixon calls the prosecution political and has incorporated the case into her campaign for U.S. Senate.
The trial is scheduled after Florida's August 18 primary, in which Nixon is challenging retired Army Lt. Alex Vindman for the Democratic Senate nomination. Following Wednesday's hearing, Nixon said if they think the threat of a trial is going to make her back down, they picked the wrong woman. Vindman tightened his grip on the Democratic money lead during the second quarter, raising $8.5 million and pushing his total receipts above $16 million. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody reported raising another $3.6 million. The November special election will determine who serves the final two years of Marco Rubio's term after Moody was appointed to the Senate when Rubio resigned to become secretary of state.