India, Aug. 19 -- Florida State Representative Angie Nixon, an unapologetically progressive lawmaker from Jacksonville who counts herself a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, held a narrow but persistent lead over retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman on Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for Florida's US Senate seat, with roughly three-quarters of the expected vote counted.

With 74 per cent of the anticipated vote tallied, Nixon led Vindman 54 per cent to 46 per cent, according to results reported by NBC News, a margin that held steady through much of the evening even as Vindman entered the race with a vastly larger campaign war chest and the backing of national Democratic figures.

The winner will face Repub...