Mucarsel-Powell hits back at Scott over ‘socialism’ label in first general election ad

Senate candidate and former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) rolled out her first general election ad Thursday, hitting back at her opponent, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), for labeling her as a socialist. 

The Hill was the first outlet to view the ad.

“I grew up under a dictatorship before coming to the U.S.,” Mucarsel-Powell says in the 30-second spot, which features footage of former Guillermo Rodríguez, who led a coup of Ecuador and led the country for about four years in the 1970s. “For me, freedom isn’t some political slogan. It’s why I came to America.” 

The former congresswoman goes on to accuse Scott of taking away freedoms, saying the senator would ban abortion, raise taxes and end Social Security. The messaging is similar to that of Vice President Harris, who has also invoked the fight to protect freedoms in her campaign.

“I refuse to let him use the trauma of so many Latinos who risked everything to escape socialist dictatorships and come to America for his own political game,” Mucarsel-Powell said in a statement. “Floridians are fed up with Rick Scott’s extremism and 14 years of failures, and our campaign will work to make sure every voter knows they can vote for a better future in this election.”

The ad is a part of an seven-figure ad buy. 

Republicans have made inroads with Hispanic and Latino voters in Florida in recent years, targeting voters who have immigrated from socialist countries such as Cuba and Venezuela. The strategy has helped Republicans flip what were once considered Democratic strongholds in the state, including Miami-Dade County. 

Last month, the Scott campaign deployed a mobile billboard in Miami with Mucarsel-Powell’s picture on it. 

“No to socialism. No to Debbie,” the billboard read. 

And earlier this year, as a part of a multimillion-dollar ad buy, Scott rolled out a TV spot touting the “fight against the socialist agenda in Washington.”

“Socialism will kill the freedoms that create opportunity and erase the values that bind us together,” Scott said in the ad. 

Recent polls show Scott leading Mucarsel-Powell, but the race appears to be tightening. The Hill’s Decision Desk HQ average shows Scott leading by 4.3 points.