--- title: "Rodriguez vs. Salazar: 2026 Florida’s 27th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-27" updated: "2026-08-19" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Florida’s 27th District race: Eliott Rodriguez (D) vs. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) Rating: Likely R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 19, 2026 Florida's 27th Congressional District features incumbent Republican Maria Elvira Salazar running against Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez in the general election on November 3, 2026, following their primary victories on August 18, 2026. The race hinges primarily on addressing South Florida's economic affordability and housing pressure, alongside sharp policy contrasts on immigration enforcement, healthcare regulation, and foreign policy regarding Latin American regimes. ## Candidates - **Eliott Rodriguez** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://eliottrodriguez.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eliott_Rodriguez) - **Maria Elvira Salazar** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://mariaelvirasalazar.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Elvira_Salazar) ## Issues ### Cost of living and economy Salience: high Rodriguez advocates for targeted government policy to increase workforce housing supply and stabilize property insurance, whereas Salazar favors broad tax relief, regulatory reductions, and free-market job growth. **Eliott Rodriguez:** Focuses on housing and insurance stabilization Rodriguez views affordability as the defining issue facing South Florida families, pointing to rising prices for groceries, borrowing, and property insurance. He advocates for structural interventions, specifically increasing workforce housing development and stabilizing the regional property insurance market. - Confront structural drivers of inflation, including housing supply constraints and property insurance volatility. - Promote workforce housing development to keep young professionals and families from moving out of South Florida. - Align local wages with rising everyday costs for groceries and borrowing. > “Affordability is the defining economic issue for working families right now. Groceries cost more. Insurance costs more. Borrowing costs more. And for too many households, wages have not kept pace.” > — Eliott Rodriguez, via [Campaign site](https://eliottrodriguez.com/) > “In this environment, we must confront the structural drivers of cost in South Florida, including housing supply constraints and insurance instability.” > — Eliott Rodriguez, via [Campaign site](https://eliottrodriguez.com/) **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Supports tax cuts and deregulation Salazar champions tax relief, regulatory rollbacks, and small business support to foster economic growth. In Congress, she voted for major budget reconciliation and energy production legislation while highlighting her work recovering fraudulent pandemic spending and hosting local job fairs. - Voted for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1 reconciliation) addressing tax policy, debt statutory limits, and program funding. - Supported making middle-class and individual provisions of the 2017 tax cuts permanent. - Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) and Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023. - Recovered billions in fraudulent pandemic spending and hosted job fairs across District 27. > “The Republican Tax Cut law was the right thing to do for our economy and our struggling middle class. I also believe, that tax cuts, combined with fewer regulations, have led to the explosive growth of our economy.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Elvira_Salazar) ### Immigration and border security Salience: high Rodriguez prioritizes rejecting harsh immigrant enforcement rhetoric, while Salazar pairs votes for strict federal detention and deportation bills with support for conditional work authorization. **Eliott Rodriguez:** Opposes harsh anti-immigrant policies Rodriguez centers his immigration message on human dignity and opposition to punitive measures. He explicitly rejects rhetoric and policies that he characterizes as cruel toward immigrant communities. - Opposes aggressive or punitive federal immigration enforcement strategies. - Advocates for humane policy that respects South Florida's diverse immigrant population. > “the politics of cruelty toward immigrants is not who we are.” > — Eliott Rodriguez, via [Campaign site](https://eliottrodriguez.com/) **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Supports border security paired with reform Salazar supports strong border enforcement alongside bipartisan reform that offers legal work authorization for undocumented residents and permanent protections for DACA recipients. Her voting record includes supporting the Laken Riley Act, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, and deportation mandates for DUI convictions. - Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring detention of noncitizens without legal permission arrested for theft or burglary. - Voted Yea on the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) and DUI deportation legislation (H.R. 875). - Advocates work authorizations for undocumented immigrants and DACA protections without family separation. > “We must tackle border security in a humane manner – without separating families – swiftly remove criminal aliens and correct visa overstay, while establishing a work authorization for the undocumented and a permanent solution for DACA recipients.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Elvira_Salazar) ### Infrastructure and environment Salience: medium Rodriguez frames environmental protection as a broad campaign commitment, whereas Salazar points to specific federal funding secured for Everglades restoration, flood control, and port infrastructure. **Eliott Rodriguez:** Prioritizes environmental protection Rodriguez includes environmental protection among his core campaign priorities. He connects environmental quality to overall sustainability and living standards in South Florida. - Lists environmental protection as one of five key pillars on his platform. **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Secured funding for resilience and Everglades Salazar emphasizes securing federal appropriations for South Florida flood mitigation, stormwater management, coastal resilience, and Port Miami expansions. She champions Everglades preservation, Biscayne Bay cleanup, and coral reef restoration projects. - Secured Community Funding Projects for stormwater systems, flood mitigation, and Biscayne Bay water quality. - Passed legislation supporting coral reef restoration using retired Navy vessels as artificial reefs. - Advocates for a National Resilience Strategy to protect coastal communities from storm surges and rising sea levels. > “As a proud champion of the Everglades, I am fully committed to securing funding for its restoration and preservation, ensuring this unique ecosystem is protected for generations to come.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Campaign site](https://mariaelvirasalazar.com) > “My work has delivered critical investments in flood mitigation, stormwater management, road and bridge improvements, water and sewer upgrades, coastal resilience, and port infrastructure.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Campaign site](https://mariaelvirasalazar.com) ### Healthcare Salience: medium Rodriguez emphasizes protecting traditional Medicare benefits, while Salazar favors market reforms across state lines alongside federal community health grants. **Eliott Rodriguez:** Supports defending Medicare and expanding access Rodriguez pledges to defend Medicare against benefit reductions and integrates affordable healthcare access into his broader affordability platform. - Pledges to defend Medicare from federal benefit cuts. - Focuses on reducing consumer healthcare costs as part of overall family budget relief. > “Defending Social Security and Medicare” > — Eliott Rodriguez, via [Campaign site](https://eliottrodriguez.com/) **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Supports market-based options and local grants Salazar advocates reforming healthcare by allowing insurance sales across state lines, eliminating waste, and repealing ACA regulations. She highlights federal funding secured for local medical research, pediatric mental health, and physician training. - Secured federal funds to expand healthcare services, pediatric mental health access, and hospital infrastructure. - Advocates permitting health insurance purchases across state lines and reducing regulatory burdens. - Voted Yea on H.R. 185 to repeal the CDC COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreign travelers. > “I am determined to protect South Florida families from mounting costs by reforming our broken healthcare system with cost-effective and patient-centered solutions.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Elvira_Salazar) ### Democracy and government reform Salience: low Rodriguez characterizes democratic institutions as under stress, while Salazar advocates for explicit reforms including congressional term limits, citizenship proof for voting, and judicial injunction limits. **Eliott Rodriguez:** Warns democracy is under stress Rodriguez names defending democratic institutions as a motivating factor in his decision to run, asserting that American democracy is currently facing severe pressure. - Identifies protecting democratic norms as a core campaign priority. > “our democracy is under real stress” > — Eliott Rodriguez, via [Campaign site](https://eliottrodriguez.com/) **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Supports term limits and voter ID rules Salazar advocates congressional term limits to reduce career politicians and supported federal voter eligibility legislation. Her votes include supporting the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote and limiting nationwide court injunctions. - Supports constitutional term limits for members of Congress in both parties. - Voted Yea on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. - Voted Yea on the NORRA of 2025 (H.R. 1526) to restrict federal district courts from issuing nationwide injunctions. > “We must get rid of career politicians in both parties that put profits and power above people, and we must set limits on how long public servants can serve in Washington.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Campaign site](https://mariaelvirasalazar.com) ### Social Security and senior care Salience: low Rodriguez focuses on defending Social Security against potential federal cuts, while Salazar highlights her vote for the Social Security Fairness Act to reduce benefit penalties for public retirees. **Eliott Rodriguez:** Pledges to defend Social Security Rodriguez pledges to defend Social Security and Medicare from benefit cuts, making senior entitlement protection a primary platform item. - Pledges to defend Social Security and Medicare from benefit reductions. > “Defending Social Security and Medicare” > — Eliott Rodriguez, via [Campaign site](https://eliottrodriguez.com/) **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Supports senior care and benefit equity Salazar supports ensuring quality healthcare and dignity for elderly citizens. In Congress, she voted for the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 to eliminate certain benefit reductions for public pensioners. - Voted Yea on the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82) to reduce benefit penalties for public pension recipients. - Supports enhanced healthcare access and support systems for retired seniors. > “Likewise, I will always stand by the elderly and work so that as they enter their golden years, they do so with the dignity, care and support they so greatly deserve.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Elvira_Salazar) ### Foreign policy and anti-socialism Salience: medium Salazar maintains an extensive platform opposing Latin American socialist dictatorships and supporting Israel, whereas Rodriguez has no documented foreign policy positions in the provided sources. **Eliott Rodriguez:** No documented position in our sources **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Opposes Latin American regimes and supports Israel As Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Salazar focuses heavily on opposing socialist regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua through sanctions and oversight. She strongly defends U.S. alliance ties with Israel. - Serves as Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs. - Held congressional hearings exposing abuses by the Cuban, Maduro, and Ortega regimes. - Voted Yea on H.Con.Res. 9 denouncing the horrors of socialism. - Advocates strong U.S. military and diplomatic backing for Israel. > “As your representative in Congress, I have been one of the strongest voices in Washington against socialism, communism, and authoritarian regimes.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Campaign site](https://mariaelvirasalazar.com) > “Our nation’s close ties with Israel should be honored and protected. As our closest ally in the Middle East and the region’s only true free market democracy – we should stand by Israel.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Elvira_Salazar) ### Public safety and firearms Salience: low Salazar proposes balancing Second Amendment rights with universal background checks and school mental health centers, while Rodriguez has no documented platform positions on firearms. **Eliott Rodriguez:** No documented position in our sources **Maria Elvira Salazar:** Supports gun safety and school prevention centers Salazar supports Second Amendment rights alongside targeted gun safety measures like universal background checks and closing criminal acquisition loopholes. She has proposed establishing Early Intervention and Prevention Centers in public schools to address student mental health. - Supports 2nd Amendment rights while backing universal background checks and closing criminal acquisition loopholes. - Proposed Early Intervention and Prevention Centers (EIPC) in public schools to identify student mental health issues. - Voted for law enforcement resources and strict penalties for noncitizens driving impaired. > “Although we must continue to protect this fundamental Constitutional right, we must find ways to keep guns out of the hands of those who should never have them – namely children, criminals, and the mentally ill.” > — Maria Elvira Salazar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Elvira_Salazar) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/fl-27-house-election-winner) — FL-27 House Election Winner: Republicans 63.0%, Democrats 37.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-FL27-26) — FL-27 House winner?: Maria Elvira Salazar 63.0%, Eliott Rodriguez 36.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXFLPRIMARY-27R26) — FL-27 Republican nominee?: Maria Elvira Salazar 97.0%, Vincent Michael Arias 1.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXFLPRIMARY-27D26) — FL-27 Democratic nominee?: Eliott Rodriguez 99.0%, Alex Fornino 1.0%, Lev Parnas 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-27)