Mitch Perry
Lois Frankel is backing Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in her bid to knock off GOP incumbent Carlos Curbelo in Florida’s 26th Congressional District in 2018.
“Debbie is a leader in her community, working to expand health care access to underserved communities and provide scholarships for first-generation college students,” said the Palm Beach County Democratic congresswoman in a statement. “She understands firsthand the challenges that our communities and our country face and has the know-how to be a part of the solution. I am proud to stand with Debbie in her campaign and look forward to serving with her in Congress.”
Murcarsel-Powell announced her candidacy for the seat in August, becoming the first Democrat to get into the CD 26 race that already had been selected by national Democrats as one of the most targeted seats in the nation to flip.
That’s because the district leans Democratic, despite the moderate Curbelo defeating then-Democratic incumbent Joe Garcia by 12 percentage points.
In her first two months on the trail, she raised $177,048.
Curbelo has more than $1.3 million cash-on-hand, as of the end of September.
“It is an honor to receive the support and endorsement of numerous leaders in our community who have instilled in us the ability to believe that together we can achieve great things,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “I am committed to live by those ideals and promise to provide FL-26 with a representative who will bring progress and opportunities for all.”
This is the 46-year-old Mucarsel Powell’s second bid for political office. In 2016, she lost to Republican Anitere Flores in the Florida Senate District 39 race.
Steven Machat and Steve Smith are also running in the Democratic primary for the seat, but Mucarsel-Powell is becoming the establishment favorite. She’s being backed by Emily’s List, as well as state lawmakers Oscar Braynon, Lori Berman, Nick Duran and Annette Taddeo, as well as a host of local officials, including Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich.
