Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar declared her triumph on Tuesday in Florida's 27th Congressional District race following a closely contested battle against Cuban-American Democrat Eliott Rodriguez.
Salazar announced that the vote counting was complete and her victory was confirmed, despite official data at the time still labeling the results as preliminary.
"Thank you, Miami," Salazar posted on X, along with a Spanish statement expressing gratitude to her supporters and pledging to continue advocating for the families in her district.
"Once again, the voters of Florida's District 27 have spoken. The vote count is finished, and our victory is confirmed!" she announced.
Salazar extended her thanks to Republicans, Democrats, and Independents who supported her, as well as the Miami-Dade election workers who facilitated the process.
She emphasized that the outcome sends a political message beyond South Florida.
"This victory sends a message beyond Miami: We won because we LISTENED," she declared.
In her statement, Salazar highlighted key issues for her constituents, including border security, rising living costs, and the need for an immigration system that respects hardworking individuals.
"We can enforce our laws without losing our humanity," she stated, advocating for her bipartisan immigration reform proposal known as the Dignity Act.
Salazar affirmed that the election results allow her to continue her work in Washington for another two years: "You have renewed your trust in me. Today, I renew my commitment to you," she concluded.
This declaration follows one of Salazar's most tightly contested electoral battles.
According to preliminary results from the Florida Department of State, the Republican secured 124,528 votes, accounting for 50.22%, while Rodriguez received 123,438 votes, representing 49.78%.
The narrow margin of 1,090 votes, approximately 0.44% of the total, was below the 0.5% threshold set by Florida law to trigger an automatic machine recount.
The recount process commenced on Monday at the Miami-Dade Department of Elections in Doral.
As of Tuesday morning, CBS News Miami and WSVN 7News reported that officials were still processing ballots and expected to finalize the recount by day's end.
At the time of this report, Florida's official results portal continued to display figures prior to the recount, indicating the race was subject to the procedure.
Consequently, Salazar's claim of the recount's conclusion lacked independent confirmation from the official records reviewed.
The process was also marked by a legal dispute. Rodriguez's campaign sought the removal of Alina Garcia, Miami-Dade's Elections Supervisor, citing a potential conflict of interest due to her statements about the outcome and her relationship with Robert Fernandez, Salazar's attorney.
On Monday, Federal Judge David S. Leibowitz denied the request, allowing Garcia to remain on the Election Board.
While he criticized Garcia's comments predicting a Republican win, he found the arguments insufficient to warrant her removal from the process.
Rodriguez had insisted that all valid votes be counted before acknowledging a final result. His campaign defended the recount as a transparency measure mandated by Florida's election law.
Salazar, however, had already declared victory on election night, November 3, affirming that District 27 voters had renewed their confidence in her.
The margin with Rodriguez was significantly narrower than in her previous victories: in 2022, she defeated her Democratic opponent by about 15 percentage points, and in 2024, by over 20 points.
Following that election night, Salazar publicly urged the Republican Party to adjust its economic and immigration policies, interpreting the results as a sign of voter dissatisfaction.
Understanding the 2023 Miami-Dade Election
How did Maria Elvira Salazar secure her victory?
Maria Elvira Salazar won by a narrow margin of 1,090 votes, with a total of 124,528 votes, which accounted for 50.22% of the total. Her victory was confirmed after an automatic machine recount as required by Florida law.
What were the main issues emphasized by Salazar in her campaign?
Salazar focused on border security, the rising cost of living, and the need for a fair immigration system. She advocated for her bipartisan immigration reform, the Dignity Act, emphasizing enforcement of laws without compromising humanity.
What legal challenges emerged during the election process?
Rodriguez's campaign challenged the participation of Alina Garcia, Miami-Dade's Elections Supervisor, due to alleged conflicts of interest. However, a federal judge rejected the request to remove her from the Election Board.