Salazar’s Anti-Trump Ad Sparks Backlash in Florida’s Hispanic District

Key points

• Salazar’s ad, released last week, directly addressed Trump, stating his immigration efforts have 'gone too far' and that his advisers are giving bad advice.
• Local Republican voters in Key Biscayne and South Miami expressed anger, with some stating they will not support Salazar in the upcoming election despite voting for her in previous cycles.
• Salazar told CBS News on Sunday that she had a 'fantastic conversation' with Trump, who was 'very receptive' to her message about preserving Hispanic voter support.
• Trump responded on Friday by chiding Salazar, stating she would not have been elected without his endorsement and that she is 'soft on the border.'
• The race is now considered competitive, with the Cook Political Report still rating it 'likely Republican,' but polls showing Salazar tied with challenger Eliott Rodriguez.
• Salazar’s campaign has a war chest of approximately $2 million, while Rodriguez’s recent fundraising haul doubled to $120,000 following the ad’s release.

Background

This development follows a series of recent events where Salazar began distancing herself from the administration’s aggressive deportation tactics. Earlier coverage noted that Salazar had introduced the Dignity Act, a bipartisan bill offering legal status to undocumented immigrants without criminal records. The current backlash highlights a growing rift within the Republican party as Hispanic voters, who were pivotal in Trump’s 2024 victory, show signs of disillusionment with the current enforcement strategy. The district in question, Florida’s 27th, is heavily Hispanic, with nearly 75% of residents identifying as such, and many are immigrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

How outlets are covering it

The Washington Post and The Guardian emphasize the local backlash, noting that many Republican voters in Salazar’s district feel she is prioritizing political survival over loyalty to Trump. They highlight quotes from residents who view her ad as a betrayal. CNN and NBC News focus more on the national implications, framing Salazar’s move as part of a broader trend of GOP candidates distancing themselves from Trump ahead of the midterms. CNN notes that Salazar claims Trump was 'receptive,' while The Guardian points out that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise disagreed with Salazar’s assessment that Hispanic voters feel 'betrayed.' All sources agree that the ad has significantly altered the dynamics of the race, turning what was previously seen as a comfortable win for Salazar into a competitive contest.

Why it matters

Salazar’s situation serves as a bellwether for the Republican party’s ability to retain Hispanic voters in the 2026 midterms. If the backlash in her district is indicative of a broader shift, it could jeopardize GOP control of the House. The incident also underscores the tension between Trump’s hardline immigration stance and the practical political needs of Republican candidates in districts with large Latino populations. The outcome of this race will likely influence how other GOP candidates in similar districts approach their relationship with the president and the administration’s immigration policies.

What to watch

Salazar will continue to campaign in the coming weeks, likely facing more scrutiny from both her base and the Trump administration. The next few weeks will be crucial for determining whether the backlash from local voters will translate into a loss of support in the polls. Trump is expected to continue his public criticism of Salazar, while Salazar will likely double down on her message of immigration reform. The race will also be watched closely by national party strategists as an indicator of the GOP’s standing with Hispanic voters in the lead-up to the midterms.