Rodriguez Sues to Remove Elections Supervisor From Recount

Rodriguez’s lawsuit argues that García should not serve as a voting member of the county canvassing board overseeing the recount. The complaint cites her political ties, a photograph with Salazar and the role of García’s son-in-law, attorney Robert Fernández, in representing the congresswoman in the recount dispute.

The lawsuit states that Salazar was ahead of Rodriguez by 1,090 votes in the most recent tally. Florida requires an automatic recount when the margin is under half a percentage point. The recount is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10.

The complaint also points to comments García made on election night, including that Salazar was the winner “with or without a recount.” Rodriguez’s campaign had asked García to step aside. The county’s deputy elections supervisor said she would not recuse herself, while García rejected the claim that a photograph with Salazar showed campaigning, saying she takes pictures with people who ask.

Fernández also denied a conflict of interest, saying the ballot review was transparent and governed by uniform standards. Rodriguez’s attorney J.C. Planas said the issue extended beyond the contest. Salazar, meanwhile, accused Rodriguez of trying to turn the process into a political spectacle because he disliked the result.

Salazar is seeking a fourth term representing the heavily Hispanic district. The lawsuit names both her and García. A separate recount in a Doral City Council race is scheduled for November 7.

Recount Lawsuit Raises Questions About Election Oversight

A narrow congressional race is now testing whether voters can trust the officials overseeing its recount. Rodriguez’s lawsuit says García should not vote on ballot or recount decisions because of her political ties, a photograph with Salazar and the involvement of her son-in-law, attorney Robert Fernández, in representing the Republican congresswoman.

Salazar’s latest reported lead was 1,090 votes, within Florida’s threshold for an automatic recount. The recount is set for Tuesday, November 10. The complaint says García publicly declared Salazar the winner on election night, before the recount had taken place, and then refused to step aside.

García has said a photograph with Salazar was taken during a Washington visit, adding that she takes pictures with anyone who asks. Fernández says there is no conflict and describes the ballot review as transparent, with uniform guidelines. The deputy elections supervisor also said García would not recuse herself.

Those defenses do not resolve the central concern raised by Rodriguez’s legal team: a recount must be overseen by decision-makers whose impartiality is beyond reasonable doubt. Salazar has called Rodriguez’s challenge an attempt to politicize the process. The lawsuit, which names both García and Salazar, asks a federal court to bar García from participating in the recount decisions.

Democrat’s Recount Lawsuit Challenges Election Official’s Role

With Salazar holding a narrow lead, Rodriguez is taking the recount dispute to federal court and challenging the official responsible for overseeing it. His lawsuit seeks to bar García from voting on ballot and recount decisions, citing her political connections, an image alongside Salazar, and the part played by her son-in-law as the congresswoman’s attorney.

The latest tally showed Salazar ahead by 1,090 votes, a margin that triggers Florida’s automatic recount. The recount is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10. The complaint also points to García’s election-night comments that Salazar was the winner “with or without a recount.”

García says the photograph was taken during a Washington visit and that she takes pictures with people who ask. Her deputy says she will not recuse herself. Fernández, García’s son-in-law, says his representation of Salazar creates no conflict and argues that observers can watch a transparent process governed by uniform rules.

Salazar has accused Rodriguez of behaving like an election denier and turning the process into a political spectacle because he dislikes the outcome. But the lawsuit is asking the court to weigh a specific concern about who gets to make recount decisions—not to stop the recount itself. It names both García and Salazar.