Fresh off his Democratic Primary win, veteran TV news anchor Eliott Rodriguez is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar to three televised debates in October — two in English and one entirely in Spanish.
Rodriguez’s camp said it has already formally transmitted the proposal to Salazar’s team, adding that it would give voters in Florida’s 27th Congressional District multiple chances to see the candidates together before the General Election on Nov. 3.
Rodriguez wants the debates staged in partnership with South Florida newsrooms and journalists. He named Jim DeFede at CBS Miami and Glenna Milberg at WPLG Local 10 for the English-language debates, and either Telemundo 51 or Univision 23 for the Spanish-language debate.
His campaign said it is contacting those outlets about possible dates and formats, and has asked Salazar’s campaign to respond by Sept. 1.
“For nearly 50 years as a journalist, I believed public officials had an obligation to answer tough questions. Now that I’m the Democratic nominee for Congress in District 27, that same standard applies to me,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
“Congresswoman Salazar and I are asking the people of South Florida for their trust. They deserve to see us side by side, answering questions about our records and explaining what we will do about the cost of living, housing, insurance, healthcare and immigration. I’m ready — in English and in Spanish — and I hope Congresswoman Salazar will join me.”
Rodriguez said the debates should be independently moderated and substantive, and should center on issues including property insurance, Social Security and Medicare, public safety and the economy.
He argued that voters should get more than commercials and talking points.
“They deserve to hear directly from the two people asking to represent them — without scripts, without 30-second commercials and without anyone else speaking for us,” he said. “Let’s stand side by side, answer the questions and let the voters make their own decision.”
Rodriguez’s campaign said the decision to hold one debate in Spanish reflects the makeup of CD 27, the state’s most heavily Hispanic Congressional District, where roughly 74% of residents identify as Hispanic.
On Tuesday, Rodriguez defeated former homicide prosecutor and Jan. 6 investigator Robin Peguero in the District’s Democratic Primary with 53.5% of the vote.
Peguero outspent him nearly 3-to-1 through July 29.
Salazar, meanwhile, turned back an underfunded Primary challenge from Coconut Grove lawyer Vincent Arias and entered the General Election with close to $2.3 million banked.
Democrats last carried the seat in 2018, and Salazar has won three straight terms by widening margins, taking more than 60% in 2024.
Still, multiple forecasters have shifted the District from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican,” and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee lists it among six Florida seats it views as “in play.”
CD 27 covers Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami, West Miami and part of Miami south of the Dolphin Expressway.
The General Election is on Nov. 3.
