President Donald Trump took to social media this weekend to amplify attacks against Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, resharing posts suggesting that she was disloyal for criticizing his immigration agenda and should be replaced on the ticket less than 40 days until the election.
“So we need a NEW Republican to replace Salazar,” read one of the posts Trump shared to his Truth Social account over the weekend. Another referred to Salazar as “nothing but a back stabber.”
Salazar, who won her district by more than 20 points two years ago, is fighting for reelection in her heavily immigrant, heavily Latino South Florida district, which includes a large share of Cubans, a group long loyal to Republicans. In a new campaign ad earlier this month, Salazar, the daughter of Cuban exiles, spoke directly to Trump, telling him that many of the Latino voters who backed the GOP in 2024 are feeling “betrayed.”
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National polling shows Latino approval and support have weakened significantly. A New York Times analysis of public opinion polls shows Latinos breaking 64 to 29 percent for Democrats — a 35-point advantage over Republicans; two years ago, Vice President Kamala Harris claimed only a 7-point lead with Latinos. If this dramatic shift holds on Election Day, it could swing races in Democrats’ favor across Florida and Texas in particular.
Latino disapproval of Trump is not tied exclusively to his immigration enforcement. A New York Times/Siena poll from early September found Trump’s approval among Hispanic voters at 26 percent, compared with 38 percent among voters overall. When asked which party they trust to handle immigration and the cost of living, three-quarters of Hispanic voters said they would trust Democrats.
The poll also shows women voters from both parties are more likely to oppose Trump’s handling of immigration. Overall, 63 percent of women compared with 47 percent of men disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration — a wider gap than that between men and women on Trump’s approval and which party they prefer in the midterms.
The Cook Political Report issued a new rating in Florida’s 27th Congressional District last week, downgrading Republicans’ chances of retaining the seat by dropping its rating from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican.” Salazar, a Latina of Cuban descent, has represented the district since 2021.
Some of Trump’s reposts suggested Salazar had been paid by unknown actors or donors to publicly criticize Trump, while others said she was “pro-amnesty.” The White House has not formally withdrawn its endorsement of Salazar.
