Overview
- Rodriguez announced his candidacy Tuesday for the Miami-based U.S. House seat, setting up a November challenge to Republican incumbent María Elvira Salazar.
- He is running as a Democrat and could first face former prosecutor Robin Peguero for the party’s nomination, while Salazar is so far unopposed on the GOP side.
- His campaign centers on lowering the cost of living, restoring accountability in Washington, and delivering results for Miami-Dade families.
- Rodriguez has criticized Salazar’s immigration record, citing a January “Silence is Not Leadership” video and later saying she “has not done enough.”
- The district has largely elected Republicans since 2012 aside from Donna Shalala’s single term, and Salazar won re-election in 2024 by more than 20 points as both contenders bring TV journalism backgrounds and Cuban American roots.