Florida District 27: Salazar Defeats Rodriguez After Recount
The former journalist secured a fourth term by a margin of 1,116 votes in a district she previously won by 20 points.
By Tomas Rahman ·
The Associated Press declared Republican Maria Elvira Salazar the winner of Florida's 27th congressional district race at 5:47 p.m. EST on Tuesday. She defeated Democrat Eliott Rodriguez by a margin of 1,116 votes. The narrow result triggered a mandatory recount following Election Day.
Salazar, a former journalist, will serve her fourth term in Congress. Rodriguez, also a former journalist who anchored at CBS4 in Miami, conceded the race. Both candidates campaigned on similar themes of immigration reform. Salazar said in a campaign video that Hispanic voters who supported President Donald Trump feel betrayed by his administration's enforcement tactics.
The outcome marks a sharp contrast to the 2024 election, when Salazar won the same district by 20 points. This year's contest drew national attention after Salazar released a video in September. In the ad, she stood in front of the White House and told the president that his immigration enforcement efforts had gone too far. She spoke in both English and Spanish, warning that many Latino residents in her district felt abandoned.
Trump, who had endorsed Salazar in every race since 2020, reacted with mixed signals. He posted on Truth Social calling her a back stabber. However, he later stated that he understood her message and still supported her candidacy. He noted that he is very strong on borders, a stance he said Salazar lacked. Trump posted a supporting message on Election Day itself.
Salazar promoted her Dignity Act, legislation intended to reform the immigration system. The bill currently sits in the House without further action. She posted on X that the victory sends a message beyond Miami. She claimed the win proved that they listened to families who want secure borders, safe communities, and relief from rising costs.
Salazar returns to a Congress where Republicans now hold a minority position. Democrats won control of both chambers last Tuesday. The Associated Press reported that Democrats hold a 255-167 majority over Republicans. Thirteen races remained undecided as of Tuesday. This shift allows for a new era of congressional resistance to the president's agenda.
