Angie Nixon: From Candy Shop and Coffee Shop Founder to Florida’s U.S. Senate Ballot
A Jacksonville mom, organizer and small business founder is on the November 3 ballot. Here is her story, the facts every Florida voter needs, and a plan to make your voice count.
Imagine running a candy shop, helping launch a market for Black-owned vendors, opening a bookstore and coffee shop, raising a family, and serving in the state legislature, all before your name lands on a statewide ballot. That is the path of Angie Nixon, a Jacksonville native who is on Florida’s November 3, 2026 U.S. Senate ballot. For a community that has always built something out of almost nothing, her story is familiar. And it raises a question every entrepreneur should ask: what happens when the people who understand payroll, permits and customer service also help make the rules?
Who Is Angie Nixon?
According to public records, Angela “Angie” Nixon was born February 27, 1984, in Jacksonville, attended Stanton College Preparatory School, and earned a political science degree from the University of Florida in 2007. She was raised in Jacksonville’s Montcrief neighborhood by a single mother who worked two jobs. Before the legislature, she worked as an aide and as a labor organizer, and she currently leads Florida For All, a coalition of organizations.
She took office in the Florida House in November 2020. In 2026 she won the August 18 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat once held by Marco Rubio, about 56% to 44%. In the general election she faces Republican Ashley Moody, who was appointed to the seat in 2025, and an independent candidate is also listed. The winner serves the remainder of the term through the next regular election in 2028.
The Small Business Owner Behind the Candidate
| Business | What it is |
|---|---|
| Melanin Market | A marketplace featuring Black-owned businesses on Florida’s First Coast, co-founded by Nixon (JaxMelaninMarket.com). |
| Natalie’s Nook & Candy Shop | Opened in 2019 with her daughter on Jacksonville’s Eastside, selling smoothies, ice cream and sandwiches. |
| Café Resistance | Founded in 2024 in Jacksonville: a bookstore, coffee shop and community gathering space. |
| The Adventures of Moxie McGriff | A children’s book she co-authored with her daughter. |
Café Resistance is the one people talk about most. Nixon has said she connected its creation to a 2022 Florida law and the push to pull certain books from school shelves. “So I stocked the books they tried to pull off the shelves,” she told The Nation. It carries books by Black authors, books about Black history and titles that have faced challenges in Florida schools, and has added free Black history lessons, tutoring, parenting and wellness workshops, guitar lessons and yoga.
“I tell people this isn’t my bookstore, this is our bookstore.”
That line, shared with The Jaxon, is the heart of every great neighborhood business: it belongs to the people it serves. We have not independently verified each shop’s hours, so if you plan to visit, call or check their social pages first.
Why a Business Owner on the Ballot Matters to Our Community
Whatever your politics, here is what makes this moment worth pausing on. Florida has one of the largest Black populations in the nation, and TheGrio reports that if elected, Nixon would become the state’s first Black senator. Nationally, NPR reported that just five Black women have ever served in the U.S. Senate: Carol Moseley Braun, Kamala Harris, Laphonza Butler, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks.
But here is the out-of-the-box point for readers of a business directory: civic life and business life run on the same muscles. You show up before opening. You listen to customers. You build trust one neighbor at a time. Black business owners across Florida already do the hard work of building local economies, and voting is one more way to protect what you build. It does not matter if you vote for Angie Nixon, Ashley Moody, or someone else. What matters is that your voice is counted, and that you know what is on your ballot.
To learn where candidates stand, read their own websites (Nixon’s is angienixon.com), then compare them side by side on your county Supervisor of Elections sample ballot. Your ballot may include other races and constitutional amendments too.
Your Voting Plan: What Florida Voters Need to Know
These facts come from the Florida Division of Elections, as of October 28, 2026. Rules and dates can change, so confirm with your county Supervisor of Elections.
- ID: Voters must bring a current, valid photo ID with a signature to vote early or on Election Day. Examples include a Florida driver license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID or student ID. If your ID has no signature, you will be asked for another that does.
- Election Day: You vote at your assigned precinct from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you can still vote.
- Mail ballots: The request deadline was 5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election (October 22). If you already have your ballot, it must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of postmark. Drop it off at your Supervisor of Elections office or a designated early voting site drop box.
- No ID? You can still cast a provisional ballot. It counts if you are eligible, voted in the correct precinct and your signature matches. You can add evidence until 5 p.m. on the second day after the election.
- Early voting: Listed as October 24 to 31 for this election, but days, hours and sites are set by each county. Confirm yours.
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Angie Nixon’s businesses started small and local, like most of ours. The Melanin Market gave vendors a place to be seen. Café Resistance gives neighbors a place to read, learn and gather. You do not need a campaign to do the same: buy from a Black-owned business this week, tell a friend, write a review. Explore the directory for insurance agents, REALTORS®, doctors and more. And if you own a business, tell us your story. We feature a Florida small business owner every Saturday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Angie Nixon?
Angie Nixon is a Jacksonville, Florida native, state representative and small business founder who is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Florida’s November 3, 2026 special election. She won the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary with about 56% of the vote.
Is Angie Nixon a small business owner?
Yes. She co-founded the Melanin Market, a marketplace for Black-owned businesses, opened Natalie’s Nook & Candy Shop in 2019 with her daughter, and founded Café Resistance, a Jacksonville bookstore, coffee shop and community space, in 2024.
What is Café Resistance?
Café Resistance is a Jacksonville bookstore, coffee shop and community gathering space founded by Angie Nixon in 2024. It stocks books by Black authors, books about Black history and titles that have been challenged in Florida schools, and hosts workshops, tutoring and classes.
Who is running for U.S. Senate in Florida in 2026?
The two major party nominees are Angie Nixon (Democratic) and Ashley Moody (Republican), the incumbent appointed to the seat in 2025. An independent candidate, Neil J. Gillespie, is also listed. Check your official sample ballot for the final list of candidates.
When is the Florida general election in 2026?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and voters in line at 7 p.m. can still vote.
What ID do I need to vote in Florida?
Florida voters must show a current, valid photo ID that includes a signature, whether voting early or on Election Day. Accepted types include a Florida driver license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID or student ID. Without proper ID you can cast a provisional ballot.
Can I still vote by mail in Florida this election?
The deadline to request a mail ballot for this election was 5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election, which was October 22, 2026. If you already have a mail ballot, it must reach your Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of postmark, so deliver it in person.
Does BlackOwnedFlorida.com endorse candidates?
No. BlackOwnedFlorida.com is a business directory and does not endorse candidates or parties. This article profiles a Black woman small business owner and shares nonpartisan voting information. Read about every candidate and make your own decision.
Sources
- Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate (campaign website)
- Angie Nixon (Wikipedia)
- 2026 U.S. Senate special election in Florida (Wikipedia)
- Blavity: Angie Nixon fought Florida’s book bans by opening a bookstore (Sept. 11, 2026)
- First Coast News: Melanin Market (Feb. 12, 2021)
- TheGrio: Angie Nixon on her Florida win (Aug. 19, 2026)
- NPR: Two Black women will serve together in the Senate (Nov. 2024)
- Florida Division of Elections: Election Day Voting
- Florida Division of Elections: Vote-by-Mail
This article is educational and nonpartisan, based on public sources current as of October 28, 2026. It is not an endorsement of any candidate or party and does not recommend how to vote. Election rules and dates can change; confirm with your county Supervisor of Elections or the Florida Division of Elections. We did not independently verify business hours or ownership structures, and we will update this page after the election.