Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the Democratic nominee for the Florida Senate, received an endorsement from the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights organization. It is worth noting that this organization had previously abstained from endorsing candidates until 2024.
Mucarsel-Powell, a former congresswoman, is making history as the first woman running for Congress to receive official endorsement from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) through their campaign arm, Adelante PAC. She is currently challenging Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
According to Domingo Garcia, the National President of LULAC, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s candidacy holds great importance as it aligns with a crucial moment in Florida’s history and the nation as a whole.
“She is the first woman endorsed by the LULAC Adelante PAC for Congress because she not only understands but also advocates for all of Florida’s residents, including Latinos. We have full confidence that she will be a powerful advocate in the U.S. Senate, representing one of the largest Latino constituencies in the country. We are honored to support her.”
Mucarsel-Powell expressed her gratitude for the endorsement of LULAC PAC and emphasized the importance of fighting for the economic prosperity and civil rights of Latinos nationwide.
She acknowledged the significant role that Latino communities play in Florida and expressed her determination to work together with their support to defeat Rick Scott in the upcoming November election. Mucarsel-Powell’s ultimate goal is to create a more promising and inclusive future for all individuals.
In a historic move, LULAC, after 95 years, announced its first-ever political endorsement by supporting the Democratic presidential ticket, which includes Vice President Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
This week, Garcia made a visit to Nebraska where he showed his support for Democrat Tony Vargas, who is running against Rep. Don Bacon (R). He also endorsed independent candidate Dan Osborn, who is in a strong position to compete against Sen. Deb Fischer (R).
The group has also announced their support for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who is currently running for Michigan’s open Senate seat.
According to Garcia, the Republican Party is shifting excessively toward the right, and he believes that it has reached a point where action needs to be taken.
LULAC’s foray into partisan politics comes at a time of increasing tension between the Texas-based group and the Republican-led state.
In August, Texas officials, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), raided the house of an 87-year-old LULAC member as part of their investigation into voter fraud.
LULAC, an organization established in 1929 to safeguard Mexican Americans against a surge of lynchings in Texas, felt deeply offended by the gesture.
Garcia expressed his strong disapproval of the raid by stating, “You don’t go after our grandmothers,” during his interaction with reporters.
According to The Hill, LULAC’s primary reason for entering the political arena is former President Trump, as stated by the organization’s representative.
Garcia emphasized the importance of taking Trump’s words seriously, pointing to his commitment to conducting widespread deportations and his derogatory remarks about immigrants.
LULAC has a unique advantage in reaching out to rural areas, which is a challenge for many other civil rights organizations. This is particularly evident in states like Florida and the Midwest, where LULAC’s structure allows it to have a significant presence.
According to the speaker, they are actively searching for candidates who can potentially sway the Latino vote in their favor.
LULAC is expanding its fight beyond the Southwest, where Gallego has a lead over Republican Kari Lake, with the endorsement of Mucarsel-Powell.
Mucarsel-Powell, the first member of Congress born in South America, faces a challenging campaign against Scott, a former chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
“It is truly remarkable that in America, someone like me, a Latina who immigrated from Ecuador and started off with a minimum wage job, can now proudly serve as a congresswoman in the United States,” expressed Mucarsel-Powell.
Although Scott is considered a frontrunner in the race, Mucarsel-Powell has made significant progress in the polls. She is now trailing him by only about 4 percentage points, according to the latest polling average published by The Hill/Decision Desk HQ. This is a notable improvement from the double-digit gap that existed in early summer.
Florida voters will have the opportunity to decide on six constitutional amendment proposals in the upcoming election. Among these proposals are ones to legalize marijuana and repeal the state’s abortion ban. Democrats are hopeful that these measures will help increase voter turnout.