Rep. María Elvira Salazar Warns Trump His Deportation Push Risks Latino Support
The Florida Republican cautioned that aggressive immigration policies are alienating Hispanic voters who supported the party in 2024.
At a glance
- Rep. María Elvira Salazar released an ad warning President Trump that his aggressive deportation push is alienating Hispanic voters.
- An Equis Research survey found Hispanic registered voters favor Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by 57% to 31%.
- Salazar faces Democratic candidate Eliott Rodriguez in Florida's 27th District, which the Cook Political Report rates as 'lean Republican.'
MIAMI — Representative María Elvira Salazar, a third-term Republican from Florida, has publicly warned President Donald Trump that his administration's aggressive deportation enforcement is driving Latino voters away from the Republican Party.
Salazar recently broadcast a campaign advertisement filmed outside the White House, arguing that Trump has gone too far on immigration. She stated that the Hispanic voters who supported his 2024 election bid now feel betrayed. Trump responded on TruthSocial by resharing a post describing her as a "back stabber." Salazar later told NPR that she spoke with Trump directly to explain that she was simply reporting the mood of her constituents.
Rising Frustration in South Florida
Florida's 27th Congressional District, based in Miami-Dade County, is more than 70% Latino. Cuban Americans in the area have long been a reliable voting base for Republicans, helping Trump narrow the national Latino margin against Democrats to three percentage points in 2024. However, local residents report that relatives and acquaintances have been caught up in recent deportation efforts, creating anxiety alongside broader complaints about the cost of living.
Eduardo Gamarra, a politics professor at Florida International University, identified local economic hardship and deportations as the two dominant issues facing the electorate, noting that immigration enforcement has disrupted businesses by stripping them of employees and clientele.
Recent polling signals broader shifts. A survey of Hispanic registered voters conducted by Equis Research found that if congressional elections were held immediately, respondents would choose a generic Democratic candidate over a Republican by 57% to 31%.
The Contest for the 27th District
Salazar has previously advocated for immigration reform through her proposed Dignity Act, which seeks to shield long-term workers in agriculture, construction, and hospitality from removal. Nevertheless, some local voters have criticized her recent pushback against Trump as arriving too late, citing her past support for immigration enforcement funding.
Salazar faces Democratic nominee Eliott Rodriguez, a former television journalist who also shares Cuban roots. Rodriguez is running on a platform to overhaul the immigration court system and restore federal food aid programs. While district polling has trended toward Democrats in recent weeks, the Cook Political Report continues to evaluate the contest as "lean Republican," with analysts noting that the GOP's established local turnout operations remain a key advantage.
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- Why did Rep. María Elvira Salazar criticize Donald Trump?
- Salazar warned in a TV ad that Trump's immigration enforcement has gone too far, arguing that Hispanic voters who backed him in 2024 now feel betrayed.
- What is the political makeup of Florida's 27th Congressional District?
- The Miami-Dade County district is more than 70% Latino and is currently rated 'lean Republican' by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
- Who is running against Salazar in Florida's 27th District?
- Salazar faces Democratic candidate Eliott Rodriguez, a former television journalist with Cuban roots who advocates reforming the immigration court system.
