Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., will face former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in November after both prevailed in their primaries on Tuesday, NBC News projects.
Scott and Mucarsel-Powell were long considered the frontrunners for their parties’ nominations, and they have already been targeting each other on the campaign trail.
Democrats are looking to go on offense as they defend their narrow Senate majority, pointing to seats in the red-leaning states of Florida and Texas as potential pickup opportunities. Scott won his first term in 2018 defeating then-Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson by just over 10,000 votes.
But since then Florida has only shifted further to the right. Trump won the Sunshine State by 3 points in 2020 and GOP Sen. Marco Rubio won re-election by 16 points in 2022. Republicans have also surpassed Democrats in voter registration.
Democrats have not yet devoted significant resources to Florida, prioritizing seats that they are defending in Montana and Ohio, two states former President Donald Trump won in 2020, and perenniel battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin.
While Democrats have already reserved nearly $340 million in airtime beginning after Labor Day and running through Election Day, none of it has been devoted to Florida, according to the ad tracking firm AdImpact. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has previously announced a “seven-figure” investment in digital ads in the state. A super PAC supporting Scott has reserved $3.2 million in the race.
Scott has a financial advantage in the race, raising $30 million so far, including a $12 million personal loan. He’s already spent millions, ending July with $3.9 million in his account, according to campaign finance filings.
Mucarsel-Powell, who served one term in Congress before losing re-election in 2020, has raised $14.4 million so far, and ended July with $4.4 million on hand.
Democrats are counting on the issue of reproductive rights to drive turnout across the country and in Florida, where abortions are prohibited after six weeks of pregnancy. Florida’s ballot will also feature a proposed amendment to codify abortion protections into the state’s constitution.