1. Deborah Mucarsel-Powell is an American politician and academic administrator who served as the US representative for from 2019 to 2021.
19 Facts About Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
1. 2.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell was the first Ecuadorian-American and first South American-born immigrant to serve as a member of the US Congress.
3.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell was defeated in her 2020 reelection bid by Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez.
4.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell was the associate vice president for advancement and later an associate dean at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
5.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell won the Democratic nomination for the seat on August 20,2024, but lost to Scott in the general election by over 12 points.
6.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and raised in Miami, Florida, the daughter of Imelda Gil and Guido Mucarsel Yunes.
7.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell began working in a doughnut shop and continued to work to help support her family, who shared a one-bedroom apartment.
8.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell attended Pomona Catholic High School in Pomona, California, graduating in 1988.
9.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell 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.
10.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell worked for nonprofits, including the Hope Center, Zoo Miami Foundation, and the Coral Restoration Foundation.
11.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell worked in fundraising for Florida International University and was the associate vice president for advancement at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
12.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell volunteered for the presidential campaigns of John Kerry and Barack Obama.
13.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell voiced support for ousting president Nicolas Maduro and recognizing the transitional government led by assembly speaker Juan Guaido.
14.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell was among a delegation of House Democrats that met with Guaido when he visited the US in February 2020.
15.
On December 18,2019, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell voted to impeach President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
16.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell announced her campaign for the US Senate in August 2023, challenging incumbent Republican Rick Scott.
17.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell won the Democratic primary with minor opposition on August 20,2024, becoming the first Latina woman to be nominated for a Senate seat in Florida.
18.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's campaign had raised more than $12 million by the day of the primary.
19.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is of Ecuadorian and Lebanese ancestry and is a Roman Catholic.