Florida's 27th Congressional District: Democrat Eliott Rodriguez Demands Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor Alina Garcia Recuse From Recount After She Called Salazar the Winner

Democratic congressional candidate Eliott Rodriguez demanded on Thursday that Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia recuse herself from the recount in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, where Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar leads by 1,116 votes. His campaign cited Miami Herald coverage of Salazar’s election-night party, where Garcia was quoted as saying “María Elvira is the winner, with or without a recount” and that a flip was “possible but not probable.”

The campaign’s lawyers formally demanded that Garcia step aside from all canvassing board proceedings and recount decisions in the race. The campaign also alleges that Salazar’s recount attorney is Garcia’s son-in-law. “A candidate can declare victory. An election official responsible for the canvass should know better,” campaign attorney Jason B. Blank wrote in his letter.