Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Cuban-American Republican representing Miami-Dade County’s 27th Congressional District, has publicly criticized President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda through a television advertisement filmed at the White House. In the ad, she expressed concern that Hispanic voters who supported Trump’s 2024 election campaign now feel alienated by the administration’s aggressive deportation policies.
The tensions reflect deeper divisions within Florida’s Latino communities, particularly among Cuban Americans who have traditionally supported Republican candidates. Polling data from Equis Research indicates that Hispanic and Latino registered voters in the region would currently favor Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by a margin of 57 to 31 percent. Economic concerns including rising costs of living and workforce disruptions caused by deportations have emerged as primary voter preoccupations, potentially reshaping the political landscape in a district that is more than 70 percent Latino.
Trump responded to Salazar’s criticism on social media, with supporters sharing posts calling her a “back stabber.” Salazar stated she later spoke directly with the president to explain constituent concerns. She has previously proposed legislation called the Dignity Act to prevent deportations of workers considered essential to their communities.
Salazar’s Democratic challenger, Eliott Rodriguez, is also a former broadcast journalist with Cuban roots. He is focusing his campaign on revamping the immigration judge system and restoring federal food assistance programs. Political analysts note that while Republican infrastructure remains strong, Democratic enthusiasm appears higher heading into the election. The Cook Political Report has rated the race as “lean Republican,” though recent polling has shifted somewhat in Democrats’ direction.
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