Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Debbie Jessika Mucarsel-Powell (born January 18, 1971)[1] is an Ecuadorian-American politician and college administrator serving as a U.S. Representative for Florida's 26th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, her district covers the western part of Miami-Dade County, including Homestead, as well as the Florida Keys.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 26th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Carlos Curbelo |
Personal details | |
Born | Debbie Jessika Mucarsel Gil January 18, 1971 Guayaquil, Ecuador |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Robert Powell |
Children | 2 |
Education | Pitzer College (BA) Claremont Graduate University (MA) |
Website | House website |
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]
She 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. 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 had volunteered for the presidential campaigns of John Kerry and Barack Obama, and in 2016, she ran unsuccessfully against Anitere Flores for the Florida State Senate.[7]
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.[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]
Tenure
On December 18 2019, Mucarsel-Powell voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump. [12]
Committee assignments
Source: Clerk of the House of Representatives[13]
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 | ||||
Personal life
She is of Ecuadorian and Lebanese ancestry.[19] When she was 24, her father was killed in Ecuador in gun violence.[20] She and her husband, Robert Powell, have two children.[2]
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
- "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.
- "Meet Debbie | Debbie Mucarsel Powell". Debbie Mucarsel Powell. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- By $${element.Contributor} (August 2, 2017). "Carlos Curbelo Gets Democratic Challenger Who Emigrated from Ecuador". Rollcall.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- "Two Latinos, Carlos Curbelo and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell battle for Florida congressional seat". Nbcnews.com. 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.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- "Curbelo draws Democratic challenger in swing Florida district". miamiherald. 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'". SFChronicle.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12
- "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. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- "Members". LGBT Equality Caucus.
- "Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members". cpc-grijalva.house.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- 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.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. |
- Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell official U.S. House website
- Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for Congress
- 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
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Carlos Curbelo |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 26th congressional district 2019–present |
Incumbent |
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
Preceded by Carol Miller |
United States Representatives by seniority 387th |
Succeeded by Joe Neguse |