Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, in her attempt to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Scott, has gained the endorsement of six additional state lawmakers.
Notably, all of them are former Democrats, making it unlikely that their support will significantly influence swing voters or persuade those aligned with the GOP to cross party lines.
The backing from Representatives Robin Bartleman, Tom Keen, Angie Nixon, Michele Rayner, Susan Valdés, and Patricia Williams, along with former Representative Richard Stark, increases the count of current and former elected officials supporting Mucarsel-Powell to 35, according to information on her campaign website.
Furthermore, numerous organizations are also advocating for Mucarsel-Powell, who previously served one term in Congress, to return to Capitol Hill.
She expressed her gratitude for her new supporters’ “unwavering support” in a statement, saying that they “all share my commitment to protecting Floridians’ freedoms and building a better future for our communities.”
“These incredible legislators know as well as anyone that Floridians are fed up with Rick Scott’s self-serving, dangerous agenda — from skyrocketing health care costs to the housing crisis across our state, Rick Scott’s failed leadership continues to leave Florida’s working families in the dust,” she stated.
“That’s why we’re coming together like never before to expand economic opportunities for Floridians and end Rick Scott’s self-serving political career — and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have these tireless advocates by my side.”
Mucarsel-Powell, a Democrat from Miami, initially worked in the nonprofit sector and as a college administrator before entering politics in 2016. After defeating Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo in 2018, she lost her first re-election attempt to Carlos Giménez, the former Mayor of Miami-Dade turned Republican U.S. Representative.
Following her time in office, she became a senior adviser to Giffords, a gun control advocacy group founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, which is supporting Mucarsel-Powell in the current election.
From August to New Year’s Eve, Mucarsel-Powell raised almost $3.8 million from over 60,000 donors through 100,000-plus contributions, making her the second-highest fundraiser after the incumbent.
Rick Scott, Florida’s 45th Governor from 2011 to 2019, has raised approximately $20.3 million since defeating Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2018, with $7 million coming from his personal funds.
Seventeen candidates, including Republican entrepreneur and lawyer Keith Gross and Democrat Stanley Campbell, are competing for Scott’s seat. Gross self-funded about $1.4 million for his campaign last year, while Campbell, a tech entrepreneur and brother of rapper-turned-community leader Luther Campbell, contributed 90% of his $1.02 million war chest.
