Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Florida Democrat, has joined forces with the Soros-funded Alianza for Progress despite her previous opposition to dark money. Alianza for Progress, a 501(c)4 group, seeks to mobilize one million Puerto Rican and “Latinx” voters for Democrats, supporting Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign against Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).

Mucarsel-Powell, a former congresswoman, had criticized dark money in politics during her term. She co-sponsored the For the People Act of 2019, aiming to eliminate dark money and restore trust in the democratic process. However, her recent collaboration with Alianza, which has received significant funding from Soros’s Open Society Policy Center, highlights a notable shift in her campaign strategy.

This alliance raises questions about her consistency, particularly as she attempts to rebrand herself as a supporter of ICE. In her 2018 campaign, Mucarsel-Powell depicted ICE as a racist organization. In contrast, a February op-ed in the Sun Sentinel saw her commend the agency’s efforts to combat illegal immigration and criticize Scott for impeding ICE’s work.

Mucarsel-Powell’s partnership with Alianza for Progress reflects the challenges she faces in her bid to unseat Scott. Despite her expected victory in the Democratic primary, she lags behind Scott by significant margins in general election polls. Her decision to align with a group she previously opposed underscores the complexities and compromises inherent in political campaigns, particularly in the contentious Florida Senate race.