U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders will visit Tallahassee on Sunday, October 18, for a political rally featuring Florida State Representative Angie Nixon, a progressive Democrat who recently endorsed Tallahassee mayoral candidate Jeremy Matlow.
The event, titled “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here,” will take place at The Moon, located at 1105 East Lafayette Street. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the speaking program scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
The Tallahassee appearance is part of Sanders’ national tour focused on economic inequality, corporate influence in government and the concentration of wealth and political power.
According to Sanders’ official website, the tour is intended to generate discussions about challenging wealthy individuals and corporate interests that Sanders believes exercise excessive influence over American politics.
The Tallahassee event also comes at a significant time in local politics, with Nixon publicly supporting Matlow in his campaign against former state Senator Loranne Ausley for mayor.
Nixon, who represents a Jacksonville-area district in the Florida House, is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate after defeating Alex Vindman in the August Democratic primary.
In September, Nixon appeared in a campaign advertisement supporting Matlow alongside Tallahassee City Commissioner Jack Porter and Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor.
“From Washington, D.C., to Tallahassee City Hall, change can’t wait,” Nixon said in the advertisement.
Matlow announced Nixon’s endorsement as part of a group of endorsements from elected officials supporting his mayoral campaign.
Nixon’s participation in the Sanders event highlights the connections between Tallahassee’s local progressive political movement and national progressive leaders.
Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, has been one of the nation’s most prominent advocates for democratic socialism, expanded government health care programs, higher taxes on wealthy Americans and increased regulation of large corporations.
Nixon has also been associated with the Democratic Socialists of America and has promoted policies emphasizing economic equality, expanded public services and greater government involvement in addressing affordability.
Sanders endorsed Nixon’s U.S. Senate campaign in August, praising her positions on health care, childcare and economic issues.
In accepting the endorsement, Nixon said government should serve working people rather than billionaires and corporations.
The Sanders-Nixon tour includes four Florida appearances over two days.
On Saturday, October 17, the two are scheduled to appear in Tampa and Melbourne. On Sunday, October 18, they will visit Gainesville before traveling to Tallahassee for the evening event.
The appearances come as Nixon campaigns for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Ashley Moody.
The timing of the Tallahassee rally is also noteworthy because early voting in Leon County begins October 19, the day after Sanders’ appearance.
The November 3 election includes the Tallahassee mayoral contest between Matlow and Ausley, along with two contested City Commission races.
Although Nixon has endorsed Matlow, the Sanders event is being promoted as part of his national political tour, not as an official Matlow campaign event. There has been no announcement that Matlow will participate in the speaking program or that Sanders has endorsed Matlow.
The event is open to the public, with attendees encouraged to RSVP through Sanders’ official website.
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