Maria Elvira Salazar
Maria Elvira Salazar, a former television journalist, has represented the 27th District since January 2021. She is the lead Republican sponsor of the bipartisan Dignity Act immigration bill (H.R. 4393, reintroduced July 2025 with Rep. Veronica Escobar). She won the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary with 81.3% of the vote over Coral Gables attorney V. Michael Arias (18.7%). In September 2026 she aired a campaign ad saying the administration's immigration enforcement has 'gone too far.'
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with 81.3% over V. Michael Arias (18.7%) (CBS Miami; Florida Politics)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $2,519,401, spent $2,249,750, cash on hand $1,680,478; $639,449 from individual donors, $742,579 from PACs, $2,493 from the candidate. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2026-09-28. 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 Strongly agrees· based on record
Salazar voted for H.R. 1 (2025), calling it 'a historic win' with 'game-changing tax relief for working families,' including extended tax cuts and no tax on tips and overtime.
"Game-changing tax relief for working families"
Immigration Leans disagree· stated position
In her first general-election ad and in subsequent interviews Salazar said parts of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement have gone too far, citing reports that more than half of about 50,000 people ICE arrested in July had no criminal conviction or pending charge. She said she is not calling for amnesty. On 'Face the Nation' on Sept. 20 she said she had spoken with the President about the effects of enforcement in South Florida.
"Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far."
Abortion Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 21), the 2025 bill setting criminal penalties for providers who fail to care for an infant born alive after an attempted abortion; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward more abortion restrictions.
Guns Leans disagree· stated position
In Vote Smart's candidate survey Salazar said 'I 100% support the 2nd Amendment'; no position on specific measures such as red-flag laws was found.
"I 100% support the 2nd Amendment"
Health care Leans disagree· based on record
Salazar voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which Democrats said would cost about 99,000-100,000 people in her district Medicaid or ACA coverage per CBO projections; her opponent also says she voted against restoring ACA subsidies.
Social Security & Medicare Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), the 2024 law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, raising benefits for some public-sector retirees.
Elections & voting Leans disagree· based on record
Salazar voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22, April 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote (passed 220-208 with every voting Republican in favor).
Crime & policing Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
Gender identity laws Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), the 2025 bill barring a presidential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without an act of Congress; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward fossil-fuel production.
Ukraine Strongly agrees· based on record
Salazar voted for the $60.8 billion Ukraine Security Supplemental (H.R. 8035, April 2024), one of five Florida Republicans to do so.
Trump administration Mixed / neutral· stated position
Salazar publicly urged the President to change course on immigration enforcement and said Hispanic voters who backed him feel betrayed, while saying she was warning rather than attacking him. On 'Face the Nation' on Sept. 20 she described a 'very good conversation' with him. Trump said on Sept. 26-27 that he disagreed with her and reposted about a dozen messages criticizing her.
"He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive."
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: Housing affordability, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Tariffs & trade, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Dignity Act immigration reform — Lead sponsor of H.R. 4393, which pairs border enforcement with earned legal status (not citizenship) for long-term undocumented immigrants; PolitiFact examined claims that it is 'mass amnesty,' and some Republican colleagues have attacked it.
- Deferred action for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans — She asked the administration for deferred action after humanitarian parole and TPS were revoked.
- Small business — NFIB and the U.S. Chamber endorsed her as a small-business 'champion.'
- No tax on tips and overtime — She highlighted these provisions of H.R. 1.
- Detention of exiled Nicaraguan journalist — After ICE detained Nicaraguan journalist Luis Chavarria-Galeano in Orlando on Sept. 14, 2026, Salazar said he 'cannot be sent back into the hands of the people who targeted him' and urged the administration to distinguish criminals from political exiles.
- Debates — Salazar has not accepted invitations from Miami TV stations to debate Democratic nominee Eliott Rodriguez; Rodriguez says he accepted.
- Public break with President Trump — After Salazar's ad criticizing immigration enforcement, Trump said from the Oval Office that he disagreed with her and that she 'got a little bit soft on the border,' then on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 26 reposted roughly a dozen Truth Social messages attacking her, some calling for Republicans to find a different candidate for the seat. Salazar had not responded directly as of Sept. 27. Conservative commentators including Tomi Lahren, Mark Levin and Alfonso Aguilar also criticized her.
- Race rating moves — Fox News and Sabato's Crystal Ball both moved the district from 'Likely Republican' to 'Lean Republican' on Sept. 22, and the Cook Political Report did the same on Sept. 25.
- Response to Miami Herald endorsement of opponent — Newsweek reported that Salazar replied on X that a Miami Herald endorsement 'has become the kiss of death for candidates who get it,' and that she has declined the three debates Rodriguez's campaign proposed.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted YES on H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (final passage July 3, 2025).
- Voted YES on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5, Jan. 22, 2025).
- Voted YES on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22, April 10, 2025).
- Voted YES on the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 8035, April 20, 2024).
- Lead sponsor of the Dignity Act (H.R. 4393, reintroduced July 15, 2025).
- Aired a September 2026 ad breaking with the administration on immigration enforcement.
- Democrats criticized her H.R. 1 vote, citing CBO projections of about 99,000 district residents losing coverage.
- Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), the 2025 law requiring federal detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes and letting states sue over immigration enforcement.
- Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), the 2025 bill requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that made the 2017 tax cuts permanent and added new deductions while cutting Medicaid and food-assistance spending.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that added Medicaid work requirements and eligibility checks projected to reduce coverage.
- Voted for the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), the 2025 bill barring a presidential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without an act of Congress; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward fossil-fuel production.
- Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
- Voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 21), the 2025 bill setting criminal penalties for providers who fail to care for an infant born alive after an attempted abortion; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward more abortion restrictions.
- Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
- Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), the 2024 law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, raising benefits for some public-sector retirees.
- Voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, a War Powers Resolution directing the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran (Roll Call 307, Sept. 15, 2026; agreed to 220-204).
- Voted Yea on the motion to table H.Res. 1486, a resolution impeaching President Trump (Roll Call 298, Sept. 15, 2026; tabled 232-147 with 47 voting present). A Yea vote set the resolution aside; a Nay vote would have kept it before the House.
- Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 210 and Not Voting on H.J.Res. 213, Congressional Review Act resolutions disapproving EPA authorizations of California's at-berth ocean-going vessel and commercial harbor craft diesel-emission rules (Roll Calls 306 and 311, Sept. 15-16, 2026; passed 216-211 and 214-208).
- Recorded as Not Voting on all four Sept. 16, 2026 roll calls checked (H.R. 9576, H.J.Res. 213, H.R. 9340, H.R. 9497); she voted on the Sept. 15 roll calls.
- Introduced the House version of the TAKE IT DOWN Act with Rep. Madeleine Dean on Jan. 22, 2025; the law, signed May 19, 2025, bars distribution of nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated ones, and requires platforms to remove reported material within 48 hours. Salazar features it in her second general-election ad, released Sept. 23.
- Co-sponsor of the FIGHT Act on dogfighting and cockfighting enforcement, the SAFE Act on horse slaughter exports, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 on alternatives to animal testing, and the Greyhound Protection Act, cited by Animal Wellness Action in endorsing her.
- Introduced a bipartisan resolution with Rep. Raul Ruiz of California to recognize Oct. 1 as National Latino Physician Day, saying physicians who reflect their communities are critical to building trust in medical care as the country faces a health care workforce shortage.
- Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), the budget reconciliation law that extended the 2017 tax cuts, added Medicaid work requirements, reduced clean-energy tax credits and funded expanded immigration enforcement.
Endorsements (as reported)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business)
- Animal Wellness Action
- María Corina Machado (Venezuelan opposition leader)
- Everglades Trust
- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella (support video)