Colombian President Backs Florida GOP Rep. Salazar as Trump Ties Fray
Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican, has received an endorsement from Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella. The backing comes as she has broken with President Donald Trump over immigration enforcement. Her district is heavily Hispanic and includes many voters with ties to Colombia and Venezuela.
Salazar represents a Florida seat where nearly three-quarters of residents are Hispanic, with many constituents connected to Colombia or Venezuela. First elected in 2021, she has seen the district shift sharply: Trump carried it by 15 points in 2024, while Clinton won it by 20 in 2016.
Colombia’s president, Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed her in a Spanish-language video, praising her as Colombia’s closest friend in Congress. He and his wife have given her almost $90,000. Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado also backed her.
The endorsement may resonate with voters in a district shaped by Colombian and Venezuelan ties, where immigration enforcement and cost concerns could influence turnout. It may also test whether foreign conservative support helps or hurts Salazar as she distances herself from Trump. Latino voters nationally, Miami’s diaspora communities, and the candidates’ strategies could all be affected if the race remains competitive.