Carlos Curbelo

Carlos Luis Curbelo (born March 1, 1980) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 26th congressional district from 2015 to 2019. In 2018, he was narrowly defeated for re-election by Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. He is a member of the Republican Party. Prior to his election to the U.S. House, he served on the Dade County School Board.

Curbelo was born in Miami, the son of Cuban exiles in Florida. He attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. He attended the University of Miami, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration.

Curbelo previously served on the Miami-Dade County Public Schools board from 2010 to 2015. He won the seat vacated by Ana Rivas Logan. Curbelo represented the 7th district. He was succeeded by Lubby Navarro on the school board. Curbelo is the founder of Capitol Gains, a government and public relations firm.

He is also a former state director for former U.S. senator George LeMieux of Florida.

In the 2014 election, Curbelo defeated incumbent Joe Garcia of the Democratic Party by 52 to 48 percent.

Curbelo ran for re-election in 2016. He was unopposed in the Republican primary. In the general election, Curbelo defeated Garcia in a rematch. Curbelo received 53% of the vote.

Curbelo was challenged by Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in one of the most hotly contested House races in Florida. Curbelo was significantly outspent during the campaign, as national Democrats eyed a pick-up opportunity in a district that had been won by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent more money (nearly $7.2 million) in the district than in any other race in 2018. House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, spent about $2.5 million in the race.

In the November 2018 general election, Mucarsel-Powell defeated Curbelo with 50.9% of the vote to Curbelo's 49.1%.