Congress: Salazar Seeks Shalala Rematch

In this undated image from Maria Elvira Salazar’s Twitter account, the candidate meets people during her 2018 campaign for Congress. Salazar is again seeking the Republican nomination for a rematch against Rep. Donna Shalala, who flipped the seat for Democrats. (Salazar campaign via Key News)

Former TV newscaster Maria Elvira Salazar wants another chance at beating Key Biscayne’s representative in Congress, Donna Shalala. 

Salazar announced plans to seek the Republican nomination for the 27th Congressional District this week, saying Shalala is not doing enough to stop what she said was “socialism” in the Democratic Party. 

“She has voted with the most radical side of the Democratic Party. She hasn’t raised her voice when it comes to socialism,” she said. She also accused Shalala of spending too much time in Washington. 

A Shalala spokeswoman brushed the criticism aside. 

“Donna Shalala is focused on serving her constituents. Congresswoman Shalala is a leader in Congress pushing to expand access to affordable healthcare,” said Maria Casado, a campaign spokeswoman. 

Democrats flipped the seat in 2018 after Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen decided against running after serving 14 terms. 

The Cook Political Report lists the district as “Likely Democratic.”

In 2018, Shalala defeated Salazar 52% to 46% with a margin of about 15,000 votes. Salazar also lost to Shalala in Key Biscayne, where voters have historically leaned Republican, by roughly the same percentage. 

Salazar has worked for Univision, Telemundo, Mega TV as well as CNN Español. She is the only declared Republican candidate for the seat so far. 

She says her main local issues are combating sea level rise and other climate change threats, adding that she can do a better job of bringing federal dollars to the district. 

Salazar also sought to put some distance between herself and President Donald Trump, who in July tweeted that four freshmen congresswomen could “go back” to their native countries if they were unhappy here. His other targets — all Trump detractors — were Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

“They are U.S. citizens,” Salazar said. “I will not pick the same words the president says sometimes.” 

Salazar’s campaign debut was marred, however, by a web site error that initially directed readers to the site of her opponent. 

“We all make mistakes,” she said. “Some people wanted me to kill someone. I said, we’re all human’.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.