By Fatma Younis
Democratic congressional candidate Eliott Rodriguez filed a federal lawsuit Friday against Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Alina García, alleging bias in the recount for Florida's 27th Congressional District.
Razor-thin margin triggers automatic recount
Incumbent Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar led Rodriguez by 1,103 votes, or 0.44 percentage points, as of Thursday evening. Florida law requires an automatic recount when the margin is less than 0.5 points. The county canvassing board, which includes García, will oversee the recount.
Allegations of conflict of interest
Rodriguez's campaign demanded Thursday that García recuse herself. The complaint cites two main concerns: the attorney representing Salazar in the recount, Robert Fernández, is García's son-in-law, and García told the Miami Herald on election night that "Maria Elvira is the winner, with or without a recount" and that a result flip was "possible but not probable."
Officials reject recusal demand
Deputy Supervisor of Elections Juan Mendieta said there is no conflict and García will not step aside. García, a Republican elected in 2024 after one term in the state House, has appeared in photos with Salazar and former President Donald Trump. The position was previously nonpartisan and appointed by the county mayor.
District shift and candidate backgrounds
The district shifted 14.26 points toward Democrats compared with the 2024 presidential election. Salazar has won three consecutive terms in the heavily Hispanic district. Both she and Rodriguez are Cuban American former journalists.
Salazar calls lawsuit a political circus
Salazar posted on X Thursday night accusing Rodriguez of behaving like an election denier and attempting to turn the process into a political circus because he dislikes the outcome. Her office did not respond to a request for comment.
Quasi-judicial role questioned
Juan-Carlos Planas, general counsel for the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee, argued the canvassing board is a quasi-judicial body and García should recuse herself as any judge would. Planas ran against García in the 2024 supervisor of elections race.
