Miami congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell endorses Joe Biden

Miami Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell endorsed Joe Biden for president on Monday, the latest sign of his campaign’s strength among Florida lawmakers and Hispanics in Congress.

Mucarsel-Powell was a vocal critic of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ comments regarding Fidel Castro’s literacy programs, but remained neutral on the 2020 primary until it became clear that either Biden or Sanders will win the party’s nomination.

She cited Biden’s work to pass an assault weapons ban in the 1990s as the reason for her endorsement.

”My father was killed by a criminal with a gun, and like so many others in my community who have experienced gun violence, this is deeply personal to me,” Mucarsel-Powell said in a statement. “Joe took on the NRA — twice — and won, leading the fight to pass the Brady background check bill. I know Joe Biden will deliver the results we need, not only on gun violence, but on healthcare, the environment and foreign policy, because that’s what he’s been doing his whole life.”

Mucarsel-Powell is the latest Hispanic lawmaker to back Biden, who lost the Hispanic vote to Sanders in Iowa, Nevada, California and Texas. But Biden’s appeal with African-American voters and older voters propelled him to a delegate lead over Sanders after he won 10 of the 14 states that voted on Super Tuesday.

Miami Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson endorsed Biden in January along with Broward Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ted Deutch and Alcee Hastings. Miami Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala has not endorsed a 2020 Democrat, though she is also a vocal Sanders critic.

This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 4:17 PM.