Miami‑Dade County voters are awaiting the certification of the District 27 congressional race, a contest that remains within Florida’s automatic recount trigger of 0.5% margin. According to NBC Miami, the current gap between Eliott Rodriguez and incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar stands at 0.46%, or roughly 1,100 votes.
On Friday morning, the county canvassing board is scheduled to begin the certification process. Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia noted that 202 vote‑by‑mail ballots in the district are still undergoing the curing process, meaning additional review is required before final results can be declared.
Rodriguez’s campaign has formally requested that Garcia recuse herself from the canvassing board, alleging a conflict of interest. The campaign claims Garcia’s son‑in‑law, a lawyer named Fernandez, is representing Salazar in the recount matter. The statement released Thursday by Rodriguez’s team says, “If confirmed, the relationship would raise additional serious concerns about Garcia participating in decisions affecting a candidate represented by a close family member.” The campaign also emphasized that a recount is “the law working exactly as it was written,” not a controversy.
Garcia, however, has indicated she will not step aside. Deputy Supervisor of Elections Juan Mendieta told NBC Miami that Garcia will remain on the board, and she has not indicated any intention to recuse herself.
Salazar responded to the recusal demand on social media, characterizing Rodriguez as behaving like an “election denier” and accusing him of turning the process into a “political circus” because he is dissatisfied with the outcome. Salazar has already claimed victory, though no official winner has been declared.
The pending certification and potential recount keep the district’s voters engaged, as the final outcome could hinge on the remaining mail‑in ballots and any additional adjustments identified during the curing process. Both campaigns are closely monitoring the board’s actions, and the community is watching for any further developments that could affect the final tally.
What’s next: The canvassing board will continue its work on Friday, reviewing the 202 outstanding mail‑in ballots and moving toward certification. If the margin remains within the 0.5% threshold after all ballots are processed, a full recount will be triggered under Florida law. Residents can follow updates through the Miami‑Dade Supervisor of Elections website and local news outlets.
Sources: nbcmiami.com
