Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell | |
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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 | Debbie Jessika Mucarsel Gil (1971-01-18) January 18, 1971 (age 53) Guayaquil, Ecuador |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Robert Powell |
Children | 3 |
Education | Pitzer College (BA) Claremont Graduate University (MA) |
Debbie Jessika Mucarsel-Powell (/ˈmuːkɑːrsɛl/ MOO-kar-sell; born January 18, 1971)[1] is an American politician and academic administrator who served as a 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 in the 2024 United States Senate election in Florida against incumbent Republican Rick Scott.[2]
Early life and education
Mucarsel-Powell was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and raised in Miami, Florida, the daughter of Imelda Gil and Guido Mucarsel Yunes. Mucarsel-Powell immigrated to the United States when she was 14 years old with her mother and three older sisters. She began working in a doughnut shop and continued to work to help support her family, who shared a one bedroom apartment.[3] Her father had been shot to death in Ecuador by a criminal.
Mucarsel-Powell attended Pomona Catholic High School in Pomona, California, graduating in 1988. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Pitzer College in 1992 and a Master of Arts in international political economy from Claremont Graduate University in 1996.[4]
Earlier career
Mucarsel-Powell worked for non-profits including the Hope Center, Zoo Miami Foundation, and the Coral Restoration Foundation.[5][6] From 2003 to 2007, she served as the director of development at Florida International University (FIU). She was the associate vice president for advancement at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine from 2007 to 2011.[7] Mucarsel-Powell became an associate dean at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.[5][6]
Mucarsel-Powell volunteered for the presidential campaigns of John Kerry and Barack Obama. In 2016, she ran unsuccessfully against Anitere Flores for the Florida Senate.[8]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2018
In August 2017, Mucarsel-Powell announced she would challenge Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo in Florida's 26th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in the 2018 elections.[9] She defeated veteran Demetries Grimes in the Democratic Party primary election, receiving 63.5% of the vote.[10]
In the November 6 general election, Mucarsel-Powell defeated Curbelo, receiving 50.9% of the vote,[11] becoming the first Ecuadorian-born person to be elected to the United States Congress and the first woman to represent Florida's 26th congressional district.[3][12]
2020
Mucarsel-Powell was defeated for re-election by the Republican nominee, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez.[13]
Tenure
On December 18, 2019, Mucarsel-Powell voted to impeach President Donald Trump.[14]
Committee assignments
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Source: Clerk of the House of Representatives[15]
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Animal Protection Caucus[4]
- Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues[16]
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus[17]
- Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus[18]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[19]
- New Democrat Coalition[20]
Post-congressional career
In April 2021, Mucarsel-Powell joined Giffords as a senior adviser, intending to lobby the U.S. Senate to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act.[21]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Anitere Flores (incumbent) | 97,343 | 54.24 | |
Democratic | Debbie Mucarsel-Powell | 82,117 | 45.76 | |
Total votes | 179,460 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Debbie Mucarsel-Powell | 20,997 | 63.5 | |
Democratic | Demetries Grimes | 12,095 | 36.5 | |
Total votes | 33,092 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Debbie Mucarsel-Powell | 119,797 | 50.9 | |
Republican | Carlos Curbelo (incumbent) | 115,678 | 49.1 | |
Total votes | 235,475 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Carlos A. Giménez | 177,211 | 51.7 | |
Democratic | Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (incumbent) | 165,377 | 48.3 | |
Total votes | 342,588 | 100.0 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
Personal life
Mucarsel-Powell is of Ecuadorian and Lebanese ancestry and is a Roman Catholic.[22][23] When she was 24 years old, her father was killed outside of his home in Ecuador by a gunman.[24][25] She and her husband, Robert Powell, have three children.[26]
See also
- List of Arab and Middle Eastern Americans in the United States Congress
- List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, la primera ecuatoriana elegida al Congreso de EEUU". La República EC (in Spanish). November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ a b "Debbie Mucarsel-Powell". Official Congressional Directory. July 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Carlos Curbelo Gets Democratic Challenger Who Emigrated from Ecuador". Roll Call. August 2, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ a b "Two Latinos, Carlos Curbelo and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell battle for Florida congressional seat". NBC News. October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ^ Clark, Lesley (October 5, 2018). "Democratic activist wants to be part of Florida's blue wave | McClatchy Washington Bureau". McClatchyDC. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Curbelo draws Democratic challenger in swing Florida district". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Greenwood, Max (August 28, 2018). "Former educator secures Democratic nod to challenge Curbelo in Florida". The Hill. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Florida Election Results: 26th House District". Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Killion, Ann. "The Latest: Nelson campaign supporting recount 'to win'". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Dixon, Matt (November 4, 2020). "Republican Gimenez unseats Democrat Mucarsel-Powell in Florida House race". Politico. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider.
- ^ "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives - Official Alphabetical List". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "The Women's Caucus". Women's Congressional Policy Institute. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Members". Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Members". LGBT Equality Caucus.
- ^ "Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Latina ex-Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell takes new role on personal mission: Gun control". NBC News. April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 117th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. January 24, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ Gamboa, Suzanne (November 7, 2018). "Latino, minority voters helped drive Democrats' gains in U.S. House, experts say". NBC News. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Mucha, Sarah (March 22, 2018). "Dem candidate recounts her history with gun violence in new ad to air during gun control march". CNN. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "She's an immigrant who lost her father to gun violence. Now she's in Congress". CNN. February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Meet Debbie". Debbie Mucarsel Powell. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/38px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 26th congressional district 2019–2021 | Succeeded by |
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
Preceded byas Former US Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative | Succeeded byas Former US Representative |
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