Eliott Rodriguez
Eliott Rodriguez, 69, is a retired broadcast journalist who anchored at CBS News Miami for 25 years after nearly five decades in journalism; he was born in New York to Cuban immigrant parents. He left the station and announced his candidacy in March 2026, reported raising $312,000 in his first 21 days, and won the Aug. 18 Democratic primary with about 53.5% over former homicide prosecutor Robin Peguero. His campaign centers on affordability, protecting Social Security and Medicare, restoring health-care subsidies, opposing tariffs and opposing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Democratic primary with ~53.5% over Robin Peguero (CBS Miami; WLRN)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $1,567,393, spent $945,602, cash on hand $621,791; $1,513,393 from individual donors, $47,000 from PACs, $7,000 from the candidate. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2026-09-18. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Leans disagree· stated position
Would ask the wealthiest Americans to contribute more to keep Social Security strong.
"Ask the wealthiest Americans to contribute more of their income so Social Security remains strong"
Housing affordability Strongly agrees· stated position
Would convert underused federal land to affordable housing and expand workforce-housing incentives.
"Identifying underused federal land and converting it into affordable mixed-use housing"
Immigration Leans disagree· stated position
Supports a secure border and removal of genuine threats while protecting Dreamers and long-rooted families.
"Protecting Dreamers and providing fair treatment for families with deep roots in America"
Abortion Strongly agrees· stated position
Rodriguez campaigned on protecting abortion rights.
Guns Strongly agrees· stated position
Would restore the assault-weapons ban and require universal background checks and safe storage.
"Restore the federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines"
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
Would protect Medicaid and ACA coverage and let people 55 to 64 buy into Medicare.
"Allow Americans between 55 and 64 to buy into Medicare voluntarily"
Social Security & Medicare Strongly agrees· stated position
Opposes privatization, benefit cuts and raising the retirement age.
"Oppose efforts to privatize them, cut benefits, raise the retirement age"
Environment & water Leans agree· stated position
Rodriguez campaigned on addressing climate change and safeguarding South Florida's environment; specific proposals were not captured.
Elections & voting Leans agree· stated position
Would defend free and fair elections and voting rights.
"Defend free and fair elections, voting rights, an independent judiciary"
Energy & utilities Leans agree· stated position
Would expand cleaner energy while protecting affordability and reliability.
"Expand cleaner energy while protecting affordability, reliability, and good-paying American jobs"
Tariffs & trade Strongly disagrees· stated position
Rodriguez opposes the administration's tariffs, describing them as part of an 'anti-consumer agenda' that raises costs.
Trump administration Strongly disagrees· stated position
Rodriguez frames his campaign as a challenge to 'Salazar and the Trump Republicans,' opposing the administration's deportation crackdown and tariffs.
No public position found on 5 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Education & school choice, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Ukraine, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Positions on issues outside this office's scope (1)
Property insurance Leans agree· stated position
Would pursue a federal backstop for Florida's catastrophic homeowners-insurance market.
"Pursuing a federal backstop to help stabilize Florida's catastrophic homeowners-insurance market"
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Affordability — Rodriguez has made affordability (cost of living) a central campaign theme, per post-primary coverage.
- Prosecuting corruption — He lists prosecuting corruption among his campaign themes.
- Public education — His platform includes investing in public education.
- Cuba — The son of Cuban immigrants, he has discussed Cuba policy in interviews and was the first journalist to interview dissident Osvaldo Paya.
- Prescription drug costs — He says he would work to lower prescription costs.
- Response to Salazar's immigration ad; debates — Rodriguez said Salazar sought Trump's endorsement and now criticizes his immigration policy only because it is unpopular in the district, citing her vote for a large immigration-enforcement funding package; he has accepted TV debate invitations and challenged Salazar to debate.
- Response to Salazar's immigration ad — Rodriguez said Salazar had voted for the tax-and-spending law that funded the enforcement she is criticizing, called the ad a 'desperate political stunt to save her seat,' and said 'she can't be trusted, she stands for nothing, she's going to lose.' His campaign's internal Bendixen & Amandi poll put the two candidates tied at 45%.
- Added to the DCCC's Red to Blue program — The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Rodriguez to its Red to Blue program on Oct. 5, the fourth Florida Democrat in the program after Bale Dalton, Leela Gray and Pia Dandiya. DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene cited the cost of living; Rodriguez said on X that the addition makes the seat 'a national priority.'
- Campaign event with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries — Jeffries campaigned with Rodriguez in Miami on Oct. 16; the campaign says Rodriguez is running on lowering living costs, preserving Social Security and Medicare, and comprehensive immigration reform.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Anchored at CBS News Miami for 25 years before leaving to run in March 2026.
- Reported raising $312,000 in the first 21 days of his campaign.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
- Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins
- Miami Herald Editorial Board