Debbie Mucarsel-Powell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 26th district | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Carlos Curbelo |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Giménez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Deborah Mucarsel Gil January 18, 1971 Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Robert Powell |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | |
| Website | Campaign website |
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (/ˈmuːkɑːrsɛl/ MOO-kar-sell; born January 18, 1971)[1] is an American politician and academic administrator who served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 26th congressional district from 2019 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, her district covered the southern part of Miami-Dade County, including Homestead, as well as the Florida Keys.
Mucarsel-Powell was the first Ecuadorian-American and first South American–born immigrant to serve as a member of the U.S. Congress. She was defeated in her 2020 re-election bid by Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Giménez.
Before entering politics, Mucarsel-Powell worked for various non-profits including the Hope Center, Zoo Miami Foundation, and the Coral Restoration Foundation. She was the associate vice president for advancement and later an associate dean at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
In August 2023, Mucarsel-Powell announced she would be running for the United States Senate in 2024 against incumbent Republican Rick Scott.[2] She won the Democratic nomination for the seat on August 20, 2024.
- ^ Florida New Members 2019, The Hill
- ^ Wang, Amy; Sotomayer, Mariana; Leigh Ann, Caldwell. "Former Democratic congresswoman to challenge Rick Scott for Florida Senate seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2023.