VoteWater has endorsed former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for the U.S. Senate.

VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart praised Mucarsel-Powell’s commitment to cleaner water and noted that she’s taken no money from Florida’s sugar industry, while her opponent, incumbent Sen. Rick Scott, has taken more than $800,000 from Big Sugar this election cycle alone.

“ ‘Red Tide’ Rick Scott’s environmental record as Governor of Florida was abysmal and as a U.S. Senator he has not been the clean-water champion we need,” said Smart. “Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is that champion, and we endorse her for the Senate.”

“Florida’s natural beauty and unique environment is one of the many things that makes it so special – and is a key driver of our economic prosperity and tourism in Florida,” said Mucarsel-Powell. “In Congress, I represented South Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Everglades, and worked across the aisle to bring over $200 million to the state for environmental and Everglades preservation. In the U.S. Senate, I will fight for funding to help Florida build the climate-resilient infrastructure needed to fight climate change.”

She also said she plans to be “a relentless fighter for funding to transition Florida to more renewable energy, make our infrastructure more resilient against extreme weather, and support emergency funding in the event of extreme weather events like Hurricanes.”

VoteWater’s Smart said Mucarsel-Powell’s refusal to take Big Sugar campaign cash show’s her interest in governing on behalf of her constituents, not polluting special interests. “The fact she’s taken no ‘dirty money’ from Big Sugar means she won’t be beholden to the industry — unlike her opponent,” said Smart.

Headquartered in Stuart, VoteWater is a 501(c)(4) organization which works to empower Floridians to demand clean water and political accountability. The organization’s recently published “Dirty Money Project” tracks political giving by Big Sugar and other polluting special interests to south Florida politicians.

Other VoteWater endorsements this cycle include Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Cindy Lerner, candidate for the Miami-Dade County Commssion District 7 seat.