Miami, FL – A longtime South Florida television journalist has announced plans to enter federal politics with a campaign targeting a competitive congressional seat in Miami.
Former CBS Miami news anchor Eliott Rodriguez confirmed he will run for Congress in Florida’s 27th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle.
Rodriguez said he will seek the seat as a Democrat, challenging Republican U.S. Representative MarÃa Elvira Salazar, who currently represents the district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rodriguez announced his candidacy in a public video statement, explaining that after decades covering South Florida communities as a journalist, he believes the region needs stronger advocacy in Washington.
He said issues such as rising housing costs, economic pressures on working families, and broader national political divisions influenced his decision to run.
Florida’s 27th Congressional District includes portions of Miami Dade County and has been considered a closely watched seat in recent election cycles.
Salazar, a former television journalist herself, first won the district in 2020 and has since secured reelection.
The upcoming race could draw significant attention due to both candidates’ backgrounds in broadcast journalism and their connections to the Cuban American community in South Florida.
Rodriguez spent decades working in local television news and became one of the most recognizable journalists in the Miami media market.
During his career he anchored and reported on major local and national stories and received multiple journalism awards for his work.
The former anchor said his campaign will focus on economic issues affecting South Florida residents, including housing affordability and cost of living concerns.
The election for Florida’s 27th Congressional District will take place during the 2026 midterm elections.