Sen. Rick Scott is launching a multi-million dollar ad campaign targeting Florida’s Hispanic voters, who have increasingly supported Republicans in recent years. Scott, running for re-election against former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, plans to spend $700,000 per week on TV, radio, and streaming service ads in both English and Spanish. The ads focus on Scott’s opposition to the socialist agenda in Washington, a message he has used consistently throughout his political career. Mucarsel-Powell has responded by calling the attacks against her politically driven misinformation and accusing Scott of neglecting Latino communities in Florida.
Mucarsel-Powell, who was elected to the House in 2018 but lost after one term, has pushed back against Scott’s attacks, highlighting his record on issues like affordable health care, gun violence, and authoritarian laws. She accused Scott of prioritizing political games over fighting for economic opportunities and standing by extremists who make false claims about immigrants. The Mucarsel-Powell campaign emphasized that Latinos in Florida are fed up with Scott and will support her in the upcoming election.
Scott, a former two-term governor of Florida, has spent significant amounts of his personal wealth on past campaigns and has already put nearly $3 million into his re-election campaign. He is undefeated in statewide races and has been a dominant force in Florida politics. Despite Democrats hoping to make gains in the state’s Senate race, Republicans have consistently held control in recent election cycles. However, Democrats see recent abortion rulings from the Florida Supreme Court as a potential turning point, with President Joe Biden’s campaign issuing a memo signaling a renewed focus on Florida.
The Florida Supreme Court rulings include allowing a restrictive six-week abortion ban in the state and a ballot measure that could enshrine the right to abortion up to viability in the state’s constitution. Democrats hope that these rulings will energize voters and help them make gains in the state, which could be crucial for maintaining their Senate majority. Mucarsel-Powell expressed optimism about Florida’s potential to become a battleground state once again, signaling a more competitive race in the upcoming election.
Scott’s campaign strategy revolves around appealing to Hispanic voters in Florida by emphasizing his opposition to socialism and presenting himself as a defender of American values and freedoms. The multi-week ad buy will include various ads targeting different demographics within the Hispanic community, with the goal of solidifying Scott’s support among this crucial voting bloc. With the election approaching, both candidates are making their cases to voters in a state that has played a significant role in recent national elections and could have a major impact on the balance of power in the Senate.
