UNITE HERE Rally Targets Rep. Salazar in Little Havana

Hospitality union leaders gathered Cuban and Venezuelan voters in Little Havana on Thursday to demand the ouster of U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar. The rally occurred days before the midterm election, which takes place on Tuesday, November 3. Organizers argued that the Florida congresswoman has abandoned her working-class and immigrant constituents. They cited specific legislative votes and a rising cost of living in Miami as evidence of her shifting priorities.

Salazar competes against Eliott Rodriguez, a former CBS Miami anchor and Democrat, for Florida's 27th congressional district. The district covers Miami, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, and Cutter Bay. Approximately 75% of residents in the area identify as Latino. The non-partisan Cook Political Report currently labels the race as competitive. Analysts had previously considered the seat a safe Republican hold. The shift in polling has drawn national media attention to the contest.

The event was organized by UNITE HERE Local 355. Speakers criticized Salazar’s record on federal spending, social safety nets, and immigration enforcement. They highlighted that Miami has become one of the least affordable metropolitan areas in the nation. Martha Cabrera, a district resident for 17 years, spoke about her change in political affiliation. She was previously registered as a Republican but switched to Non-Party Affiliated.

Cabrera stated she feels betrayed by Salazar’s promises to the immigrant community. She pointed to the congresswoman’s support for a $75 billion funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Cabrera also cited Salazar’s vote to cut benefits for the elderly. She described herself as disappointed alongside many other former Republican voters who gave Salazar their support in previous cycles.

Rally speakers focused on Salazar’s alignment with President Donald Trump’s agenda. They referenced her vote to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. That legislation extended tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and added new provisions. It increased funding for ICE by ten times. This made ICE the most funded federal law agency in the country. The bill also included major cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP.

SNAP serves 17% of households in Salazar’s district. Organizers expressed outrage over recent reports of harsh conditions in South Florida immigration detention facilities. They also criticized administration policies that transport undocumented Cuban migrants to third countries, including Africa, without due process. Ana Sofia Pelaez, Executive Director of Miami Freedom Project, argued that Salazar’s legislative record contradicts her public image.

Pelaez said Salazar tries to present herself as a compassionate advocate for immigrants. She claimed that Salazar’s votes enabled policies that she only disavowed when her election was at risk. Maikol Rodriguez, a Venezuelan worker and union member, spoke about the fear immigrants face. He said he fled a dictatorship to defend what is just. He argued that Latinos help make the country and deserve respect rather than living in fear.

UNITE HERE Local 355 leaders reported that they knocked on more than 40,000 doors. They targeted Cuban and Venezuelan households to mobilize voters against Salazar. Their campaign message is simply "Adios, Salazar!" Last month, Salazar aired a campaign ad blasting Trump’s immigration policies. In the ad, recorded in front of the White House, she stated that 50% of the 50,000 people detained in July had no criminal record.

Salazar told Trump to be careful about his advisers’ advice on immigration. She said the same Hispanics who helped him win the 2024 election feel betrayed today. She clarified that she is not advocating for amnesty but for a dignified life for immigrants. She told Trump that only he can fix the situation.