María Elvira Salazar retains her seat in Miami: The recount confirms her narrow victory over Eliott Rodriguez
Salazar acknowledged that her victory was because she "listened" to Florida voters, especially after ICE raids intensified in his district.
Representative María Elvira Salazar in a file photo
Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar will secure a fourth term in the House of Representatives after winning Florida's 27th District, one of the closest races in the country, which was only decided after a recount that lasted nearly two days.
The Miami-Dade County Board of Canvassers determined on Tuesday, after reviewing 247,952 votes, that Salazar received 50.22% compared to 49.78% for Democrat Eliott Rodriguez, according to El Nuevo Herald. CNN also projected a victory for the Cuban-American representative.
"Once again, the people of Florida’s 27th District have spoken. The recount is over, and our victory has been reaffirmed," Salazar celebrated in a statement released after the results were announced.
The margin at the close of voting was so narrow that it triggered the state law requiring an automated recount. Staff from the County Supervisor of Elections' Office processed the ballots between Monday and Tuesday, and Salazar never lost the lead.
Although Salazar's victory was certified on election night and has now also been confirmed by the recount, Rodriguez attempted to remove the county election supervisor, Republican Alina Garcia, from the counting board, whom he accused of bias. A federal judge rejected the request and the count continued as planned.
In her message, Salazar extended special thanks to those who oversaw the vote count and to an electorate that, she noted, crossed party lines. The congresswoman expressed her gratitude "to every Republican, Democrat, and independent" who placed their trust in her, and to the Miami-Dade election workers "who worked tirelessly throughout this process to ensure every legal vote was counted."
The race pitted two familiar faces against each other for Miami audiences, as both candidates built their careers as television journalists before making the leap into politics.
For Salazar, the result was, to a large extent, due to her speaking out on immigration issues. "We prevailed because we LISTENED," she wrote, saying that during the campaign she listened to the concerns of families calling for secure borders, protected communities, relief from the rising cost of living, and an immigration system that respects the dignity of workers.
At that point, she brought up again the Dignity Act, the bipartisan immigration reform bill she is promoting in Congress and which has become one of her main causes: "We can enforce our laws without abandoning our humanity."
The congresswoman described her reelection as a new impetus for that agenda. As she wrote, the victory gives her "two more years to carry that fight forward, to be your voice in Washington" and to ensure that her constituents' concerns are not forgotten in Congress.
The victory carries additional significance in the national context. Salazar retains one of the Republican seats in an election in which the Democrats swept and secured large majorities in both chambers of Congress.
"You have renewed your trust in me. Today, I renew my commitment to you," the congresswoman stated.
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