María Elvira Salazar Wins Re-Election in Florida District 27

Representative María Elvira Salazar secured re-election in Florida’s 27th Congressional District after an automated recount confirmed a narrow victory over Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez on Tuesday.

Recount Confirms Salazar Victory in District 27

The recount process verified the outcome from the November 3 midterm elections, where Salazar captured 50.22% of the vote compared to Rodriguez’s 49.78%. Updated figures from the Florida Division of Elections show Salazar leading Rodriguez by 124,528 votes to 123,438, a margin of 1,090 votes, or 50.22% to 49.78%. Because the margin fell below the state’s 0.50 threshold, an automatic recount was activated.

Workers at Miami-Dade Elections headquarters worked through the night recounting ballots for the race. The recount started shortly before 11 a.m. Monday, when workers first tested the machines to ensure they were working properly. Tabulation then started with Election Day ballots, which wrapped up Monday evening, with early votes and vote-by-mail ballots planned through Tuesday.

“Esta victoria manda un mensaje más allá de Miami: prevalecimos porque escuchamos,” said Salazar in a message posted to her social media accounts after the results were confirmed.

Federal Judge Dismisses Supervisor Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge David S.

Salazar's Immigration Video Causes Campaign Friction

The race drew national attention in September when Salazar released a campaign video criticizing President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. In the ad, she warned that aggressive deportation tactics targeting individuals without criminal records had gone too far and left many Hispanic voters feeling betrayed.

Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez, a former local news anchor, used the fracture during the campaign, stating that Salazar had become so politically toxic that even Daddy Trump appeared to be distancing himself from his problem child. Despite the friction, Trump never officially rescinded his initial endorsement of the incumbent Republican, having previously said that he supported the Florida Republican even after the video.

Miami sits at the center of the national immigration debate, holding the most pending removal cases of any county in the country, with over 130,000 pending cases. Following her confirmed victory, Salazar emphasized a measured approach to border enforcement, stating in a communication to constituents:

Podemos aplicar nuestra ley sin abandonar nuestra humanidad.

María Elvira Salazar, U.S. Representative

Salazar was first elected to the seat in 2020 in a major upset when she defeated former Health Secretary and former University of Miami President Donna Shalala.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries traveled to the district to campaign for Salazar’s opponent during the cycle, while Decision Desk HQ projected Salazar to win her seat despite breaking with President Trump on immigration.

Salazar’s campaign platform also emphasized small business and the economy, healthcare, public safety, and fighting socialism. Raised in Miami by parents who fled Cuba following Fidel Castro’s rise to power, Salazar thanked her constituents for renewing their trust in her as she renewed her commitment to them.

Earlier coverage: María Elvira Salazar Wins Florida Seat After Machine Recount

More on this story: Salazar and Rodriguez race in Florida’s 27th may trigger a recount · Nancy Lacore Wins South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District Race · Democrats Defy Republican Redistricting Efforts in Midterm Election Wins