Miami‑Dade County voters in congressional District 27 are awaiting the certification of a race that remains too close to call, a situation that directly impacts representation for Miami residents. The margin between the two leading candidates, Elliot Rodriguez and Maria Elvira Salazar, stands at 0.46%, which triggers Florida’s automatic recount threshold of 0.5%.
According to NBC Miami, the raw vote difference is about 1,100 votes. The county’s canvassing board is scheduled to begin the certification process on Friday morning, and 202 vote‑by‑mail ballots in the district are still undergoing the curing process, Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia said earlier this week.
Rodriguez’s campaign has formally requested that Garcia recuse herself from the canvassing board, alleging a conflict of interest because her son‑in‑law, a lawyer named Fernandez, is representing Salazar in the recount matter. The campaign’s statement, cited by NBC Miami, says, “If confirmed, the relationship would raise additional serious concerns about Garcia participating in decisions affecting a candidate represented by a close family member.” Deputy Supervisor Juan Mendieta told NBC Miami that Garcia will not recuse herself.
Salazar responded on social media, calling her opponent an “election denier” and accusing him of turning the process into a “political circus” because he does not like the election outcome. She has already claimed victory, though no official winner has been declared.
Rodriguez’s team emphasized that a recount is not a controversy but “the law working exactly as it was written,” according to their statement reported by NBC Miami. The supervisor reiterated that the canvassing board will continue reviewing ballots, noting the ongoing curing of the 202 mail‑in ballots.
What’s next: The canvassing board will meet Friday morning to certify the results, after which any further legal challenges could be filed. Residents should watch for updates from the Supervisor of Elections office and local media as the process unfolds.
Sources: nbcmiami.com
