Born and raised in New Jersey, Raphael has spent most of his adult life in Florida. He served as an elected member of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus and its local caucus. Additionally, he worked as a field organizer for a Florida House of Representatives campaign and volunteered with several local political campaigns in Palm Beach County.

Raphael graduated with honors from Palm Beach State College and earned a degree in Politics from the University of Virginia in 2023. In his spare time, you will find Raphael in the gym, playing with his orange cat, Oliver, or watching a new movie.