Mucarsel-Powell Wants to Unseat Scott – NBC 6 South Florida

One of the most closely monitored races this election cycle could have an impact on the balance of power in the U.S. Senate: Republican Sen. Rick Scott is challenged by former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to keep Scott or choose Mucarsel-Powell for one of several Senate seats the GOP is defending this election cycle.

Scott was elected to the Senate in 2018, defeating incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by about 10,000 votes out of more than 8 million votes cast. He also served as governor for two terms, both times winning less than 50% of the vote.

Mucarsell-Powell defeated the Republican incumbent and won her only term in Congress in 2018. Two years later, however, she lost to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, relinquishing her seat, having changed parties several times in the last election.

About the candidates

While in Washington, Scott says he worked to put money back into taxpayers’ hands, stop what he calls “reckless” government spending and fight inflation. He says he is taking action to protect Social Security and Medicare, denying Mucarsel-Powell’s claims that he is campaigning to end federal programs.

“Are we going to follow the path of socialism or the path of opportunity? It really is that simple,” Scott told NBC6 anchor Jackie Nespral. “Do you want the government to dictate your life, decide everything for you, and that cost you money and took away your opportunities? Or maybe you want freedom that comes with responsibility and doesn’t mean you’ll achieve a perfect result? “

During her time in Congress, Mucarsel-Powell says she worked to expand Medicare, provide economic relief to families and small businesses, and secure funding for Everglades restoration.

“(Scott) has been voting against your interests for years,” Mucarsel-Powell said on Nespral’s Impact. “I’m doing this because Florida deserves better than what we have in the Senate right now.”

About the most important issues

Voters have made it clear in polls that the two most important issues that concern them are the economy and inflation.

Scott has sharply criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to the economy, blaming rising inflation rates on what he calls a “tax and spend” agenda.

“Groceries, gas have gone up significantly in price…Pretty much everything that people touch,” Scott said. “This is the biggest problem we face. It’s all because of one thing: the government spends more than it receives. We spend 40% more than we receive and taxes are already high enough. “I don’t know, every American who goes, oh, I want to pay more taxes, so we have to do what I did as governor: balance the budget.”

He blasted his opponent for his “anti-business” approach and praised former President Donald Trump’s economic plan to support small businesses to revitalize the economy.

“(Trump) is a businessman. Understands how to build and develop a company. This country can’t grow, we can’t have more opportunities, we can’t have more jobs unless we have more thriving businesses,” Scott said. “Look at what the economy was like when President Trump was president. We had lower unemployment, a much better economy, no inflation, closed borders and the like. We need to understand this economy. It’s not like it’s going to be easy, but I’d rather have a businessman do it than someone who has no business experience.”

Mucarsel-Powell, who called herself a fiscal conservative, stated that she opposed raising taxes on the middle class and promised to address rising costs directly.

“I’m not in favor of raising taxes on people making $400,000 or more because there are families out there because the cost of living is so high that they can’t even buy their first home,” Nespral said.

“We need to provide tax incentives, not raise taxes, for families who may not be able to earn enough income to buy a first home or afford a family education,” Mucarsel-Powell said.

Survey numbers

Scott has a seven-point lead over Mucarsel-Powell, according to a poll conducted by Mason-Dixon for NBC6 and Telemundo 51. The poll shows that 48 percent of Florida voters support re-electing Scott to a second term in the Senate, while 41 percent are likely to vote for Mucarsel-Powell. Nine percent are still undecided.

Scott would like to capitalize on that undecided percentage: “I’d like to meet with everyone. I travel around the state every day and have basically been doing so for 14 years. You have to talk to people, talk about their problems. “

Mucarsel-Powell and Democrats hope that ballot support for two statewide initiatives – legalizing recreational marijuana and establishing a constitutional right to abortion until enforceable – will carry it across the finish line, especially Amendment 4 on abortion.

“We need to take this as an opportunity to protect a woman’s freedom and choice, but also make sure people understand that if Rick Scott is re-elected, he will push for a nationwide abortion ban,” Mucarsell-Powell said.