Alexander Vindman, a witness in the first impeachment case against President Trump, announced Tuesday he’s running for the Senate in Florida.
The Democrat hopes to take on GOP Sen. Ashley Moody, who was appointed to fill the Florida seat last year after former Sen. Marco Rubio was confirmed as Mr. Trump’s secretary of state.
Mr. Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and former National Security Council staffer, is pitching the potential matchup as “the patriot” versus “the politician.”
“Today, our country is in chaos: Thug militias attacking citizens, tariffs pushing prices sky high, health care premiums through the roof, and Florida homeowners are being absolutely screwed because Ashley Moody caved to the big insurance companies,” he said in a video announcing his campaign. “They put Moody in the Senate to be a yes vote for Trump and the billionaires.”
To take on Ms. Moody, Mr. Vindman will first have to win a crowded Democratic primary that includes former Rep. Alan Grayson and a few candidates who have held local elected positions.
Mr. Vindman has name recognition from his 2019 testimony in the House impeachment proceedings against Mr. Trump.
Serving as the NSC’s expert on Eastern European affairs, he was on the phone call in which Mr. Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Hunter Biden as his father was running for president.
The House impeached Mr. Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but the president was acquitted in the Senate. Mr. Trump quickly fired Mr. Vindman from the NSC.
Mr. Vindman referenced his impeachment testimony in his launch video, saying he was last seen “swearing an oath to tell the truth about a president who broke his.”
“My family came to America as refugees to escape tyranny, and I sure as hell was not going to bow down to some wannabe tyrant,” he said. “This president unleashed a reign of terror and retribution, not just against me and my family, but against all of us.”
Mr. Vindman said he is running for Senate “to put a check on Donald Trump and the corrupt politicians who think your tax dollars are their personal piggy bank.”
His twin, Rep. Eugene Vindman, already serves in Congress as the representative for Virginia’s 7th District. The congressman is also an Army veteran who served as an NSC legal adviser and was fired by Mr. Trump in the fallout of the impeachment trial.
Rep. Vindman released a video endorsing his brother’s campaign.
“He’s running to protect our democracy, to stand up to corruption and to serve with the same integrity that’s guided his entire life,” he said.
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.
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