Former South Florida Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is now a candidate for U.S. Senate, announcing Tuesday morning that she is seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Rick Scott in 2024.
“I’m an immigrant, a Latina, a mother and we made history together when I became the first South American immigrant ever elected to Congress,” Mucarsel-Powell proclaimed in a two-minute and twenty-one second video announcing her candidacy. “I’m not afraid to take on Rick Scott, or anyone who doesn’t put Florida first.”
If elected, Mucarsel-Powell would become only the second woman elected by Florida voters to the U.S. Senate. The only previous woman was Republican Paula Hawkins from the Orlando area – who served a single term from 1980-1986.
Former Democratic Congresswoman Val Demings attempted to become the second woman U.S. senator last year, but she was defeated by GOP incumbent Marco Rubio by more than 16 percentage points.
Florida Democratic House Leader Fentrice Driskell had also reportedly been considering a candidacy, but announced on Monday that she would not run for the seat.
Mucarsel-Powell’s announcement is not a surprise. She has been rumored among Democrats for more than a month to be considering the contest, and the Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee released a poll last week that they had commissioned that showed her to be running even with Scott in a proposed 2024 race.
Mucarsel-Powell was born in Ecuador and defeated Republican Carlos Curbelo in 2018 to represent South Florida’s 26th Congressional District. In winning that seat she became the first South American immigrant to be elected to Congress. But her tenure in Washington lasted just one term, as she was knocked off in 2020 by Republican Carlos Gimenez.
For the past year she has served as a senior advisor with the nonprofit Giffords, the gun-safety organization founded by former Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Before her time in Congress she was an associate dean at the Florida International University College of Medicine, and prior to that a director of development at FIU, according to her LinkedIn page.
In her campaign video she takes aim at Scott, saying that he would take away women’s rights by supporting a national abortion ban (Scott has said that he supports Florida’s six-week abortion ban), and that “he wrote the plan that would take away Social Security and Medicare that you worked and paid for.”
That’s a reference to his controversial 2022 “Rescue America” plan that called for sunsetting all federal legislation every five years – including Social Security and Medicare – a proposal that was panned not just by Democrats but by fellow Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Scott removed Social Security and Medicare from the plan earlier this year).
While Mucarsel-Powell is the likely favorite of the Democratic establishment, she will have competition in the primary election, which takes place nearly exactly a year from today. Retired naval veteran Phil Ehr and former congressman Alan Grayson have previously filed to run for the seat.
Republicans didn’t think much of today’s announcement.
“Losers Gonna Keep Losing!” wrote Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler on X. “The Democrats once again field a failed, rejected, and radical Democrat candidate who is completely out-of-touch with Florida. Floridians have made it clear at the ballot box and with each month’s voter registration report that our state is becoming more pro-freedom and less willing to accept a radical Democrat such as Debbie Mucarsel-Powell representing us in the U.S. Senate.”
“Former Congresswoman Mucarsel-Powell is a radical socialist who voted 100% 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,” said Priscilla Ivasco, a spokesperson for the Scott Senate campaign.
Scott himself is facing a primary challenge from businessman Keith Gross. On his campaign website, Gross described himself as a “conservative entrepreneur, pilot, and attorney from Panama City, Florida.”
–Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
David Schaefer says
It’s a beautiful thing.
GA says
We will give her our full support. Scott has to go. Then the whole state will need to take a shower to rid ourselves of the slime he has brought down on the people of Florida
Brandon cross says
Let me think about this.
So this woman was elected to Congress and after one term she was defeated for a second term.
After her own constituency rejected her for a second Congressional term… She now wants to r for Senator???
Thinking she has no chance of victory why do this?
Thomas Hutson says
Rick Scott Senator
Now is the time for all Floridians to take stock in our elected officials. Think about what has passed and why!! This is one of the scumbags that has the nerve to stand in front of Law Enforcement Officers in a photo shoot in an effort to show his support, What a joke!! Rick old buddy you and your associated scumbags don’t pass the Smell TEST!! You think the “INSURRECTION” did not happen; it was just a “Charade” a Made for Tv “JOKE”. Get Real!! You support the dirtbags that assaulted My Brother/Sister Capital Police Officers with metal bars, Fire Extinguishers, bear repellant, shields, flag poles with the American Flag still attached to it!! These dirtbags broke into the seat of our GOVERNMENT wanting to “KILL the VICE-PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES, and the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, third in Line to the Presidency, causing the death of one officer at the scene, others by suicide, injuries physical and emotionally that many are still living with, how dare you!! These officers were doing their jobs LIVING Up to their OATH, that you by the way also took, “TO SERVE, PROTECT, and DEFEND the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES”.
If that is not enough reasons why to not VOTE for SCOTT in 2024 election, how about these?? CEO of his company that paid $1.7 Billion for Fraud in collections of Medicare, Medicaid payments. Collected $10 million with $300 million stock from same company at “Retirement”, during investigation of company pled the 5th 75 times, “Really”?? Objected to the Electoral Vote count, Blocked Voting Rights Legislation, Proposed the “SUNSET” OF Federal Laws for SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICIAD, enough said!! Scott is nothing but a very rich “MINION” able to change like a “CHAMELEON”. VOTE NO on RICK SCOTT.
Charles says
Thank you for running, you got my vote.
Mark says
This constant announcement of Florida being the “land of the free” is getting old.
Land of the free, except you can’t play your music too loud.
Land of the free, except women are getting basic health care rights taken away.
Land of the free, except a private company isn’t allowed to run their business as they see fit.
Land of the free, unless you want to peacefully protest.
Land of the free, unless you are a duly elected district attorney.
Jonathan says
Totally agree with every word you wrote. Egg head needs to GO!
Alexis says
DeathSantis is a little man dictator and this is what you get when you give little people some power. There is a shortage of teachers because of him. Tourism is down because of him, and citizens are packing up because they don’t want to live under his dicatorship.
Watch the debate tonight and he will show you he isn’t qualified to be in any political office.
His wife tells him what to say and how to dress, he isn’t capable of doing those things himself let a long hold public office.
Laurel says
I hope she pulls the chair right out from under his medicare defrauding ass.
Bill C says
Took the 5th 75 times, his company fined 1.75 Billion for Medicare fraud (the largest ever assessed). What more do you need to know about Senator Rick Scott? Gangsters say to themselves “why didn’t I think of that”?!
Dennis C Rathsam says
Wheres DIANNE ROBERTS????? If this is all U democrats have….CAN U SAY SCOTT WINS BY A LANDSLIDE!!!!
Boobycuse says
Rick Scott has got my vote
Laurel says
Boobycuse: So why is it you and Dennis are so okay with medicare, medicaid and social security fraud? How does that make the man desirable as a leader to you? Really, it’s a bafflement to me, so please explain.
Sherry says
@Booby. . . you are completely “duped”. . . so very sad for you!
Sherry says
@dennis. . . One human being to another. . . I sincerely hope you get the counseling you obviously so desperately need, and soon.