Salazar leads Rodriguez by 1,300 votes in 27th District race

Maria Elvira Salazar holds a lead of roughly 1,300 votes over her challenger in Florida’s 27th congressional district. The gap is less than one percentage point, a margin small enough to trigger a mandatory recount under state rules.

Salazar, a three-term Republican, defeated her opponent by 20 percentage points in the 2024 election. In the current contest, her Democratic rival is former television news anchor Eliott Rodriguez. Both candidates are Cuban-Americans. Salazar spent her campaign criticizing President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics.

Salazar spoke to supporters in Key Biscayne on Tuesday night. She expressed confidence in a victory but described the national results as a warning sign for her party. She stated that voters in District 27 and across the country signaled a need for Republicans to adjust their positions on the economy and immigration. Rodriguez addressed a crowd in South Miami at Pub 52. He said the tight race proved that every ballot carries weight in red-leaning Miami-Dade County. He pledged not to concede the seat until the recount concluded.

Polls indicate that Latino voters, who form the majority in the 27th District, have moved away from the Republican Party. This shift appears driven by concerns over affordability and immigration policy. Rodriguez characterized the result as evidence of a crossover of votes to Democrats in the area.

County officials will begin the recount process after the initial certification of results. The candidates will have the opportunity to observe the counting of ballots during this review.