Salazar Wins Reelection in Florida’s 27th District
Salazar secured another term representing Florida’s 27th District, which includes Miami neighborhoods with large Hispanic communities. Her victory came after a public break with President Donald Trump over his immigration crackdown drew national attention during the campaign.
In September, Salazar released an advertisement criticizing the administration’s deportation approach. She argued that many Hispanic voters felt betrayed and that enforcement had gone too far, including in cases involving people with no criminal records. Trump amplified social media attacks on her and calls to replace her as the Republican nominee, but he did not formally withdraw his endorsement.
Eliott Rodriguez, the Democratic contender and a former television journalist, sought to make the dispute an issue in the race. Trump had won the district by 15 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. His strong showing in Miami-Dade County marked the first time a Republican presidential candidate had carried the county in 36 years.
The district has been affected by the administration’s deportation campaign. Miami-Dade County had more than 130,000 unresolved deportation proceedings, the highest count of any county in the country. Salazar, first elected in 2020 after defeating former Health Secretary Donna Shalala, represents a district that includes working-class Hispanic areas as well as some of the nation’s wealthiest ZIP codes. It is also expected to host Trump’s presidential library and is where Secretary of State Marco Rubio resides.
Salazar’s Reelection Follows Her Challenge to Trump’s Deportation Drive
Salazar’s reelection came after she publicly challenged Trump’s deportation campaign, arguing that its tactics had gone too far and had alienated Hispanic voters. Her comments put a Republican incumbent at odds with a president who carried her district by 15 points in 2024.
The Miami-based district includes working-class, largely Hispanic neighborhoods, and Miami-Dade County had over 130,000 unresolved deportation proceedings, more than any other U.S. county. Salazar’s September advertisement criticized deportations that targeted people without criminal records. Her victory keeps in office a representative who raised concerns about the consequences of the administration’s approach.
Trump amplified online attacks calling for Salazar to be replaced as the GOP nominee, although he never formally withdrew his endorsement. Democratic opponent Eliott Rodriguez, once a local television journalist, tried to use the rift against her.
Salazar was first elected in 2020, defeating former Health Secretary Donna Shalala. The district also includes some of the country’s wealthiest ZIP codes, is where Secretary of State Marco Rubio lives and is set to host Trump’s presidential library.
Salazar Holds Trump-Carried Miami District Despite Immigration Rift
Salazar won another term in a district Trump carried by 15 points in 2024, demonstrating that his earlier endorsement remained in place despite their public disagreement over immigration. Trump amplified criticism of Salazar after she released an advertisement opposing aspects of his deportation policy, but he never formally rescinded his support.
The dispute gave Eliott Rodriguez, a former broadcaster now running as a Democrat, an opening to attack Salazar. His effort did not prevent the Republican from retaining the Miami-based seat. Salazar’s result underscores the importance of a district where Trump had strong support even as immigration enforcement became a contentious campaign issue.
Salazar said Hispanic voters in large numbers felt let down by the crackdown and objected to deportations involving people without criminal records. Miami-Dade County had more than 130,000 pending removal cases, the largest number of any county in the country.
First elected in 2020 after defeating former Health Secretary Donna Shalala, Salazar represents a district spanning largely Hispanic working-class areas and some of the nation’s wealthiest ZIP codes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also lives there, and the district is expected to host Trump’s presidential library.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, NBC News.
