The latest campaign flex
Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., is pulling out all the stops for her re-election bid. The congresswoman just dropped a video on X featuring an endorsement from Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who called her his nation's "best friend" in Congress.
The background
This isn't exactly a random pairing. De la Espriella is a dual Colombian-American citizen who owns property in Salazar's district. The plot thickens when you look at the financials—NBC News reported that the President and his wife have donated nearly $90,000 to Salazar’s campaigns in the past. Salazar also publicly supported de la Espriella during his own election earlier this year.
In her post, Salazar leaned into the connection, stating that representing South Florida's Colombian community is a mission she brings to Congress every day. Salazar is currently fighting to keep her seat against Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez.
Why it matters
In a tight election cycle, this high-profile international endorsement shows Salazar is doubling down on her specific base in South Florida. It’s giving main character energy to her campaign strategy, even as she simultaneously faces heat from some fellow Republicans over her recent ads critiquing certain immigration policies.
