Florida politics is rarely boring, and the 2024 Senate race was no exception. If you’ve been tracking the headlines, you’ve probably asked yourself: who is Rick Scott running against? Honestly, while there were a handful of names on the ballot, the real fight boiled down to a heavyweight clash between the incumbent Senator and a former Congresswoman named Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
It wasn’t just about two people wanting a job. This was a collision of two completely different versions of what Florida—and the rest of the country—should look like.
Rick Scott, the former healthcare executive and two-term Governor, has been a fixture in Florida’s political machine for over a decade. He’s known for his "Rescue America" plan and a very specific, hardline conservative brand. On the other side, you had Mucarsel-Powell, a Democrat who flipped a red seat in 2018 and has focused her career on things like gun safety and healthcare access.
Who Is Rick Scott Running Against? Meet the Main Challenger
Let’s get into the weeds here. While the primary season saw several candidates throw their hats in the ring, the general election narrowed the field significantly.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell was the undisputed lead challenger. Born in Ecuador and moving to the U.S. at age 14, she has one of those "only in America" stories that resonates with a lot of voters in South Florida. She served in the U.S. House representing Florida’s 26th District from 2019 to 2021. She didn't just stumble into this race; she was heavily recruited by national Democrats who thought Scott might be vulnerable.
But she wasn't the only one on the ballot. If you looked at the long-form paperwork, you’d see names like Feena Bonoan, representing the Libertarian Party. There were also "No Party Affiliation" (NPA) candidates like Ben Everidge and Tuan Nguyen.
In Florida, these third-party candidates rarely crack more than a percent or two of the vote, but in a state where Scott won his first Senate race by a literal hair—roughly 10,000 votes in 2018—every single decimal point matters.
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The Numbers and the Money
Money in this race was absolutely wild. Rick Scott is one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, and he isn't afraid to use his own bank account to fund his campaigns. By the end of the 2024 cycle, Scott had raised over $40 million.
Mucarsel-Powell wasn't exactly broke, though. She brought in more than $31 million. While she trailed Scott in total cash, she actually kept it surprisingly competitive on the airwaves for a long time. However, national Democratic groups were criticized by some locals for not dumping even more money into the state, especially as Florida has drifted further right in recent years.
The Issues That Defined the Face-Off
This wasn't just a popularity contest. The policy divide was a canyon.
One of the biggest flashpoints was Scott’s 12-point "Rescue America" plan. Democrats, including Mucarsel-Powell, hammered him on a specific provision that would have sunsetted all federal legislation every five years. They argued this was a back-door attempt to kill Social Security and Medicare. Scott eventually revised the plan to explicitly exclude those programs, but the political damage was done; the "Scott wants to cut your benefits" line became a staple of every Democratic ad in the state.
Then there was the "socialist" label. Scott has a very effective strategy of labeling his opponents as "radical socialists." Given Florida’s large population of people who fled regimes in Cuba and Venezuela, that word carries immense weight. He applied it liberally to Mucarsel-Powell, despite her record as a relatively moderate Democrat.
Reproductive Rights and Ballot Measures
You can't talk about the 2024 Florida Senate race without talking about the amendments. Two massive issues were on the ballot alongside the candidates:
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- Amendment 3: Legalizing recreational marijuana.
- Amendment 4: Protecting abortion access.
Mucarsel-Powell leaned heavily into Amendment 4. She bet that the push for reproductive rights would bring out enough suburban women and independent voters to "cross the line." Scott took the opposite approach, calling the amendment extreme and aligning himself with the state’s 6-week ban, though he later said he preferred a 15-week limit.
Why This Race Was Different From 2018
In 2018, Rick Scott beat incumbent Bill Nelson in a recount that felt like it lasted a century. He won by 0.12%. It was a nail-biter.
Fast forward to 2024, and the landscape changed. Florida is no longer the "purple" swing state it used to be. Registered Republicans now outnumber Democrats by more than 1.1 million in the Sunshine State. That’s a massive hill for any Democrat to climb.
When the dust settled on November 5, 2024, the "close" race many pundits predicted didn't quite materialize. Scott won decisively. He pulled in about 55.6% of the vote compared to Mucarsel-Powell’s 42.8%.
What was really shocking to the pros was Scott’s performance in Miami-Dade County. For years, Miami-Dade was a Democratic stronghold. Scott won it. He also won Osceola County. This shift among Hispanic voters—especially men—basically closed the door on any chance the Democrats had.
What Happens Now for Rick Scott?
Winning a second term wasn't just about staying in the Senate for Scott. He has much bigger ambitions.
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Even before the votes were fully counted, he was eyeing the job of Senate Republican Leader, looking to replace Mitch McConnell. While he ultimately faced stiff competition for that leadership role, his comfortable double-digit victory in Florida gave him a massive mandate. He has positioned himself as the "change agent" in the Senate, frequently clashing with the old guard of his own party.
For the people of Florida, Scott's victory means a continuation of his focus on border security and "fiscal sanity," as he calls it. For the Democrats, the loss of Mucarsel-Powell was a sobering reminder that their "Blue Florida" dreams are currently on life support.
Key Takeaways for Voters
If you're looking at what this means for the future, here are the brass-tacks facts:
- Incumbency is King: Scott’s ability to self-fund and his high name ID made him nearly impossible to topple in a state trending red.
- The "Socialist" Label Works: In Florida, this remains the most potent political weapon in the GOP arsenal.
- Demographics are Shifting: The GOP's gains with Hispanic voters in South Florida are not a fluke; they are a trend that other states are now watching closely.
If you want to stay informed on how Rick Scott is voting now that he’s secured another six years, the best thing to do is track the Senate's legislative calendar or sign up for his constituent newsletters. You can also monitor the FEC website to see how the remaining campaign funds from both Scott and Mucarsel-Powell are being dispersed, which often hints at their next political moves.
Keep an eye on the 2026 gubernatorial cycle next. Many of the same themes—and maybe even some of the same names—will likely resurface as Florida prepares for its next big political transition.