Debbie Mucarsel-Powell wins Democratic Primary for US Senate seat, will challenge Rick Scott in November

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Former U.S. Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell entered this year’s Democratic Primary for a U.S. Senate seat as the front-runner.

“This is the day where once we get through the Primary, hopefully we will have a strong showing, we will make history,” she said. “There’s never been the Latina before (at) the top of the ticket here in South Florida running for U.S. Senate.”

NSU professor Charles Zelden believes Murcasel-Powell had been doing the work that her opponents did not.

“Of the four candidates, she has been the one who is advertising,” said Zelden. “She made it clear she is running for the office. The other candidates have been running almost stealth campaigns.”

Mucarsel-Powell raised more money than the other three Democratic candidates combined, Navy veteran and IT executive Stanley Campbell, Army combat veteran Rod Joseph and former 1990s State Rep. Brian Rush.

When the votes were counted Tuesday, 69% of the ballots were cast for Mucarsel-Powell. Campbell received the second-most votes, earning 19% of ballots cast.

In her remarks to supporters Tuesday night, Mucarsel-Powell struck a tone of inclusivity.

Known for reaching across the aisle as a representative, she aims to bring moderates and independents into the fold by focusing on issues like tackling the rising cost of health care and property insurance.

She also worked to link Rick Scott to Project 2025 as she reiterated her support for abortion access.

Even before the results came in, Mucarsel-Powell was confident.

“I am feeling optimistic,” said Mucarsel-Powell, not just speaking about the Primary. “I have already fought guys like Rick Scott and beat them.”

She already had her focus on beating the Republican incumbent, campaigning against the former governor who is expected to trounce his two Primary challengers, attorney Keith Gross and actor John Columbus.

Scott, who was so confident he had his Primary clinched that he skipped campaigning in Florida for his own seat, instead was in Chicago on Monday as the Democratic National Convention got underway to stump for Donald Trump.

“I am here to help Donald Trump win,” Scott said.

Scott won his primary in a landslide, receiving 84% of the ballots cast. In a statement released by his campaign, Scott said, in part:

“Thank you to the great voters of Florida in every corner of our state who turned out to resoundingly deliver us a win and showed the country that Florida is RED! We have received more votes than every Democrat candidate combined and are ready to deliver a big win in November.”

This as Mucarsel-Powell, whose platform includes protecting Medicare and Social Security, focused on making Scott a one-term senator.

“From what we are seeing from every poll is that people do know who Rick Scott is, they just don’t want to vote for him,” she said. “I need to put politics aside and look at the issues. We need to protect seniors’ benefits. They rely on the Social Security income. They rely on Medicare.”

A recent poll from Florida Atlantic University places Mucarsel-Powell in striking distance, trailing Scott by just four points.

“Rick Scott has never been all that popular. He won by narrow margins in all his races,” said Zelden.

ABC News ranked Florida’s U.S. Senate race as one to watch, adding it is “one of the few Senate seats that is even marginally vulnerable for Republicans.”

Zelden said fueling Democratic enthusiasm could flop the seat just two years after Florida’s strong Republican showing in 2020, a once purple state now red with more registered Republicans than Democrats.