Miami Herald: “Curbelo challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell gets help from national Democrats”
01/10/18
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is going all in for Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
On Wednesday the DCCC announced that Mucarsel-Powell, a consultant for nonprofits who is challenging Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo, is one of 18 Democrats nationwide to land in the organization’s Red to Blue program. The program highlights candidates in competitive districts who have shown an ability to fundraise and build a viable campaign operation.
“As a working mom, a Latina and an immigrant to the United States, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell will fight every day to ensure that the American dream – which she’s lived – exists for her kids and the kids of so many others in South Florida,” said DCCC Chairman Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M. “And it’s clear what’s at stake for South Florida families – Debbie has centered her candidacy from day one on protecting access to high quality, affordable healthcare for the families she will represent. Debbie is running a people-driven, grassroots campaign built on earning voters’ trust and their votes this November.”
The Red to Blue designation is not an explicit endorsement from the DCCC, though Mucarsel-Powell is the only candidate challenging Curbelo who has raised a significant amount of money. Mucarsel-Powell raised $177,048 through the latest fundraising quarter, according to Federal Election Commission records, though she trails Curbelo’s $1.7 million raised during the 2018 cycle so far.
Curbelo won reelection against former Rep. Joe Garcia in 2016 despite representing a Miami-to-Key West district that voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by 16 percentage points, the largest margin of victory for Clinton in a district represented by a Republican running for reelection in 2018.
