Poll Shows Salazar Leading Democrats by Slim Margins in Florida's 27th District

Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar edges out challengers Robin Peguero 47-40 and Eliott Rodriguez 46-43 in a Miami-Dade race that could sway Florida's congressional balance.

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A man leads a majestic brown horse at a formal equestrian event outdoors.
Aliaksei Semirski

A new poll shows U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar holding narrow leads over two Democratic challengers in Florida's 27 Congressional District, with both contests falling within the survey's margin of error.

Blueprint Polling, a New York-based firm, surveyed 451 general election voters March 6–8 and found Salazar drawing 47 percent support against Democrat Robin Peguero, a former federal prosecutor and Jan. 6 Committee investigator, who pulled 40 percent. In a separate hypothetical matchup, Salazar drew 46 percent against Democrat Eliott Rodriguez, a retired TV news anchor, who registered 43 percent support. Both gaps fall within the poll's 4.61-point margin of error. Thirteen percent of respondents were undecided in the Peguero matchup; 11 percent in the Rodriguez contest.

CD 27 does not cover Treasure Coast counties, but the district's competitiveness carries implications for Florida's congressional balance of power and the national environment that shapes federal funding decisions affecting Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has designated CD 27 one of three Florida districts it considers "in play" heading into the 2026 cycle.

The survey was conducted two days before Rodriguez formally announced his candidacy. He and Peguero posted nearly identical results despite a significant name recognition gap—40 percent of respondents said they had not heard of Rodriguez, compared with 57 percent who said the same of Peguero. The poll did not include Democrat Richard Lamondin, who has raised roughly $700,000 since entering the race in mid-May 2025 According to initial reports,—about $300,000 more than Peguero. Internal polling from Lamondin's campaign showed him at 43 percent against Salazar's 46 percent. CPA Alex Fornino is also in the race, according to Federal Election Commission records. Lev Parnas, a Trump donor-turned-critic, announced plans to seek the Democratic nomination, though FEC paperwork had not yet been filed as of publication.

CD 27 covers Miami, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, and surrounding communities. The Democratic primary is scheduled for Aug. 18; the general election for Nov. 3.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.

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