This week, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., launched a bid to topple U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., in next year’s U.S. Senate contest.
Mucarsel-Powell launched a new video introducing herself and attacking Scott on abortion and other issues as she started her campaign.
“My name is Debbie Mucarsel-Powell,” the new candidate announced on social media. “I’m an immigrant, a Latina, and a mother. I’m not afraid to take on anyone who doesn’t put Florida first. That means you, Rick Scott. That’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate.”
Born in Ecuador and growing up in Miami, Mucarsel-Powell worked for several years at Florida International University (FIU) before making her political debut in 2016 when she unsuccessfully challenged then-state Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami. Two years later, in a good year for Democrats across the nation, Mucasel-Powell defeated U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., 51 percent to 49 percent. In 2020, she lost to longtime Miami Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez in 2020, pulling 48 percent but falling short to the Republican who garnered 52 percent.
Scott’s campaign quickly took aim at the new candidate as it compared her record to that of other Democrats in Washington.
“Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is Washington’s radical puppet who was hand-picked by Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. South Floridians have already rejected her once and Floridians won’t hesitate to reject her again. Instead of fighting for Florida families, Debbie pushed Democrats’ socialist agenda during her very short stint in Congress,” Scott’s campaign insisted.
“We’d like to welcome yet another failed congressional candidate to the crowded Democrat primary. Former Congresswoman Mucarsel-Powell is a radical socialist who voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi during her short tenure in Congress, which is why the voters of South Florida booted her out of office the first chance they got. Floridians already rejected her once and they will reject her again,” said Priscilla Ivasco, a spokeswoman for Scott’s campaign.
Mucarsel-Powell joins a crowded, if not particularly impressive, Democratic primary field even as state House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, announced she would try to stay in the Legislature instead of run against Scott. With efforts to recruit former NBA stars like Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade to challenge Scott stalled, Phil Ehr, a former Navy officer who twice ran against U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has grown increasingly active, including hitting Scott and trying to tie him to former President Donald Trump. Other candidates in the Democratic primary include former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., former state Rep. Brian Rush and a field of minor candidates. Among the possible Democratic candidates is Brevard County School Board Member Jennifer Jenkins.
