Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Debbie Jessika Mucarsel-Powell (born January 18, 1971)[1] is an American politician and college 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 western 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. House and the U.S. Congress.

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 A. Giménez
Personal details
Born	Debbie Jessika Mucarsel Gil January 18, 1971 Guayaquil, Ecuador
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Robert Powell
Children	3
Education	Pitzer College (BA) Claremont Graduate University (MA)

Murcarsel-Powell was defeated in her 2020 re-election bid by Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos A. Giménez.

Early life and education

Mucarsel-Powell was born and raised during her early years in Guayaquil, Ecuador, 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.[2]

Mucarsel-Powell attended Pomona Catholic High School in Pomona, California. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Pitzer College and a master's degree in international political economy from Claremont Graduate University.[3]

Earlier career

Mucarsel-Powell worked for non-profits like the Hope Center, Zoo Miami Foundation, and the Coral Restoration Foundation.[4][5] 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 FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine from 2007 to 2011.[6] Mucarsel-Powell became an Associate Dean at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.[4][5]

Mucarsel-Powell volunteered for the presidential campaigns of John Kerry and Barack Obama. In 2016, she ran unsuccessfully against Anitere Flores for the Florida State Senate.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

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.[8] She defeated veteran Demetries Grimes in the Democratic Party primary election, receiving 63.5% of the vote.[9]

In the November 6 general election, Mucarsel-Powell defeated Curbelo, receiving 50.9% of the vote,[10] 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.[2][11]

2020

Mucarsel-Powell was defeated for re-election by the Republican nominee, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez.[12]

Tenure

On December 18, 2019, Mucarsel-Powell voted to impeach President Donald Trump.[13]

Committee assignments

• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Source: Clerk of the House of Representatives[14]

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues[15]
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus[16]
• Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus[17]
• Congressional Progressive Caucus[18]
• New Democrat Coalition[19]

Electoral history

Florida State Senate, 23rd district, 2016

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

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Debbie Mucarsel-Powell	20,997	63.5
	Democratic	Demetries Grimes	12,095	36.5
Total votes			33,092	100.0

Florida's 26th congressional district election, 2018

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

Florida's 26th congressional district election, 2020

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.[20] When she was 24 years old, her father was killed outside of his home in Ecuador by a gunman.[21][22] She and her husband, Robert Powell, have three children.[23]

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

1. Florida New Members 2019, The Hill
2. "Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, la primera ecuatoriana elegida al Congreso de EEUU – La República EC" (in Spanish). Larepublica.ec. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
3. "Meet Debbie | Debbie Mucarsel Powell". Debbie Mucarsel Powell. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
4. By $${element.Contributor} (August 2, 2017). "Carlos Curbelo Gets Democratic Challenger Who Emigrated from Ecuador". Rollcall.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
5. "Two Latinos, Carlos Curbelo and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell battle for Florida congressional seat". Nbcnews.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
6. "Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
7. Clark, Lesley (October 5, 2018). "Democratic activist wants to be part of Florida's blue wave | McClatchy Washington Bureau". Mcclatchydc.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
8. "Curbelo draws Democratic challenger in swing Florida district". miamiherald. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
9. Greenwood, Max (August 28, 2018). "Former educator secures Democratic nod to challenge Curbelo in Florida". The Hill. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
10. "Florida Election Results: 26th House District". Retrieved November 7, 2018.
11. Killion, Ann. "The Latest: Nelson campaign supporting recount 'to win'". SFChronicle.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
12. Dixon, Matt (November 4, 2020). "Republican Gimenez unseats Democrat Mucarsel-Powell in Florida House race". Politico. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
13. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12
14. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives - Official Alphabetical List". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
15. "The Women's Caucus". Women's Congressional Policy Institute. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
16. "Members". Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
17. "Members". LGBT Equality Caucus.
18. "Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members". cpc-grijalva.house.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
19. "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
20. Gamboa, Suzanne (November 7, 2018). "Latino, minority voters helped drive Democrats' gains in U.S. House, experts say". NBC News. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
21. 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.
22. https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/04/politics/debbie-mucarsel-powell-barrier-breakers/index.html
23. "Meet Debbie". Debbie Mucarsel Powell. Retrieved January 6, 2021.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Appearances on C-SPAN