Salazar's Immigration Ad Draws Backlash and Shifts Race Rating
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar aired an ad criticizing President Trump's immigration enforcement as having gone too far and warning that Hispanic voters felt betrayed. The Cook Political Report shifted her reelection race from Likely Republican to Lean Republican. Trump responded mildly, saying Salazar had gotten soft on the border but that he understood her position.
Salazar, a three-term Republican representing Florida’s 27th District, released the bilingual spot on Sept. 17. She cited ICE figures from July indicating half of those detained lacked criminal convictions or unresolved charges, and argued that Hispanic backers of Trump’s 2024 campaign now felt let down.
The Cook Political Report moved her race from Likely Republican to Lean Republican on Sept. 25, noting Trump’s weaker South Florida approval could weigh on her. Her Democratic rival, former Miami news anchor Eliott Rodriguez, has emphasized affordability and resistance to the administration’s immigration approach.
The episode could sharpen scrutiny of how Republican candidates balance Trump’s enforcement agenda with local Latino concerns. Voters in FL-27, especially Hispanic residents, may treat the race as a test of immigration tone and affordability. The rating change could energize Democratic organizing, while some Trump-aligned voters might question Salazar’s independence. National debates over detention and enforcement may echo beyond the district, affecting how both parties discuss immigration in midterm races.