Newly retired South Florida news anchor Elliot Rodriguez announced the launch of his campaign for Congress in Florida’s 27th district today. The district includes portions of Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and Pinecrest.
“I didn’t plan to run for Congress,” Rodriguez shared during his announcement. “But I cannot stay silent.”
Rodriguez’s campaign launch emphasized affordability and democracy, addressing South Florida’s housing crisis and making it a main priority on his agenda.
“South Florida has now become one of the least affordable housing markets in the United States, with families here spending more of their income on rent and mortgages than almost anywhere in the country,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Too many of our children and grandchildren — including my own — are being forced to leave the community they grew up in, because the cost of living is simply too high for them to stay. We need leadership focused on real solutions — not political theater or division.”
Rodriguez’s campaign platform seeks to lower healthcare and prescription drug prices, invest in public transportation and infrastructure, expand workforce housing, and fortify Social Security and Medicare.
In his announcement, Rodriguez addressed his concerns about the direction of American democracy, highlighting that the Trump administration’s immigration policies motivated him to run.
“Like many Americans, I am deeply concerned about the tone of our politics, about our rights being challenged, and about a democracy that feels increasingly under strain. I am also horrified by cruel policies and enforcement tactics targeting immigrants and even American citizens,” Rodriguez stated. “Public service should be about protecting our freedoms, strengthening our institutions, and ensuring that government works for the people it represents.”
Rodriguez’s run will put him against well-known incumbent, U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fl.), a former journalist who’s built a national presence as one of President Donald Trump’s loyalists in Congress. Salazar was elected in 2020 and currently serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services.
