Full Breakdown
Colombian President Endorses Florida GOP Rep Amid Tight Midterm Race
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Endorsement
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella released a Spanish-language video in October 2026 praising incumbent U.S. The endorsement arrives as Salazar confronts a narrowing re-election battle in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, where she faces Democrat Eliott Rodriguez, a former CBS News Miami anchor.
Background & Context
Salazar has represented the Miami-area district since 2021. The district is more than 74 % Hispanic and maintains strong cultural ties to Colombia and Venezuela. In the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump carried the district by 15 percentage points, while in 2016 the district gave former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a 20-point margin, underscoring its recent volatility.
In the weeks preceding the endorsement, Salazar broke with Trump on immigration, airing a campaign ad that warned the same Hispanic voters who helped Trump win the White House in 2024 “feel betrayed today.” The ad included the statement:
“Be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy. The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today,” — Rep. María Elvira Salazar
He later used his Truth Social platform to amplify criticism and called for a new Republican candidate to replace her.
Data & Statistics
- Donations: De la Espriella and his wife have contributed nearly $90,000 to Salazar’s campaigns.
- Demographic makeup: Over 74 % of the district’s residents identify as Hispanic.
- Cook Political Report: In late September 2026 the race shifted from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.”
- National Latino sentiment: An NBC News poll indicates Latino voters nationwide are souring on Trump, citing high prices and aggressive immigration enforcement.
Official Statements & Responses
- Salazar’s immigration critique: As quoted above, she warned that Trump’s advisers were misleading Hispanic voters.
- Rodriguez on foreign focus:
“As much as my opponent would like to make this election about politics in Latin America, it’s really about the people of Florida’s 27th District,” — Democrat Eliott Rodriguez
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No substantive discrepancies appear among the available sources regarding the endorsement, donation amounts, or the district’s electoral trends.
What’s Next
Florida’s 27th Congressional District will vote in the November 2026 midterm elections. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added the race to its “Red to Blue” program, promising additional funding and organizational resources for Rodriguez’s campaign. Both campaigns are expected to intensify outreach to Hispanic voters in the final weeks before the election.