PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — Attorney Vincent Michael Arias is challenging the incumbent in the Republican primary for Florida’s 27th Congressional District.
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar won the seat in 2020 after defeating Democratic incumbent Donna Shalala, a former Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“I think it’s time for a change,” said Arias, 68, who has a private law practice in Coral Gables.
Campaign finance reports show Salazar, a retired broadcast journalist and author who took office in 2021, received the most donations out of seven candidates, five of them Democrats.
“When you look at the resumes and the experience, I’m head and shoulders above everybody who is running right now,” Arias said.
Arias, a former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement attorney, said he wants to focus on fiscal responsibility.
“Some of that starts with reducing the deficit. It’s out of hand. It’s causing a great deal of inflation, and I know this through my background in finance,” Arias said. “To reduce inflation, you have to reduce the deficit.”
Arias, a former assistant state attorney in Orlando, said there are problems with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that need to be fixed.
“We have ICE arresting and shooting people in the streets. One of those problems may be improper training,” Arias said. “The government should provide thorough training of its agents. That would go toward improving public safety.”
Arias said ICE also needs to prioritize deporting violent criminals and treat violators with dignity.
“The ones who are here illegally should be detained and deported, but it should be done in a more humane manner,” Arias said.
Salazar sided with Democrats who want the Trump administration to extend the temporary protected status of Haitians and Venezuelans. She co-authored the Dignity Act to speed up asylum processing.
“It’s legislation that is needed in this country, fix the broken immigration system once and for all, TPS is part of that,” Salazar, 64, said earlier this month on This Week In South Florida.
Salazar also told Local 10 News anchor Glenna Milberg on TWISF that she had voted for $25 million in federal funding for projects in the district even though she voted against the broader omnibus spending bill.
“I represent the interests of my constituents,” Salazar told Milberg.
Salazar’s victories include the Take It Down Act to criminalize the nonconsensual sharing of authentic or AI-generated intimate images, and worked with Democrats on the Dispose Act to stop fentanyl before it crosses the border.
The mail-in ballot request deadline is Aug. 6, the primary is Aug. 18, and the general election is Nov. 3.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
Salazar had more than $1.95 million in receipts, and Vincent had nearly $134,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
With over $1.02 million in receipts, Robin Peguero, a former federal prosecutor, was the Democrat who had raised the most donations after Salazar.
Richard Lamondin, Jr., followed with more than $743,700; Eliott Rodriguez had more than $616,700; Michael Davey had over $45,190, and Alexander Fornino was last with about $25,150.
Related reports
- Democratic candidates for District 27 discuss reasons for running, plans if elected
- VOTER GUIDE: Here is how to prepare for Florida’s Aug. 18 primary election
WATCH INTERVIEWS
Peguero on TWISF on July 12
Rodriguez on TWISF on July 12
Salazar on TWISF on July 5
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