NEW: GOP Rep. Who Backstabbed Trump Now Behind In The Polls

Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) is facing a sharp drop in support among likely voters in her Miami-area district, according to a new poll showing her trailing a potential Democratic challenger—just months after she championed a controversial immigration bill that created outrage among many of her conservative constituents.

Salazar, a three-term congresswoman representing Florida’s 27th District, co-sponsored the DIGNITY Act of 2025 alongside Democrat Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX). The bill provides a legal framework—seen by many as a path to citizenship—for certain illegal immigrants who meet strict criteria, including continuous U.S. residency since 2020, employment or education requirements, background checks, and a $7,000 restitution payment over seven years.

The proposal, which stops short of granting citizenship or welfare access, is being sold by Salazar as a “pragmatic” and “earned” solution. Critics, including conservative media figures and hardline immigration hawks, argue that any legal status without deportation is too much. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has condemned the bill as a Trojan Horse for mass amnesty, while grassroots conservatives have labeled Salazar a sellout.

And now, it appears the political fallout is beginning to materialize.

A recent poll by Kaplan Strategies found that Salazar is slipping behind Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in a hypothetical matchup. Among 804 likely General Election voters, Levine Cava leads Salazar by two points—44% to 42%—within the poll’s 3-point margin of error but enough to show the district could be turning against the incumbent.

“This result suggests a potential battleground district heading into 2026,” said Kaplan Strategies principal Doug Kaplan, noting that Salazar didn’t clear 45% in any of the four matchups tested.

“This polling suggests national and local operatives should take Florida CD 27 seriously as a competitive swing district,” Kaplan added, “especially given the underlying issues driving voter decisions: inflation, immigration, and crime.”

The poll also shows deeper signs of trouble for Salazar: 52% of respondents believe the country is on the wrong track, and only 40% view her favorably. In contrast, 45% have a favorable opinion of Levine Cava, with a majority of those describing their view as “very favorable.”

FL-27 POLL

🔵 Levine Cava: 44%
🔴 M.E. Salazar (inc): 42%
⚪ Not sure: 14%
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• Salazar vs Davey: Salazar 45-38%
• Salazar vs Fornino: Salazar 45-35%
• Salazar vs Lamondin: Salazar 45-34%
——
Kaplan Strategies | 804 LV | Late July https://t.co/JF2WbubHji

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) August 4, 2025

Even more concerning for Republicans, the poll sample was majority GOP. Of the voters polled, 47% identified as Republican, 29% Democrat, and the remainder as independents or third-party. Yet despite the tilt, Salazar failed to put meaningful distance between herself and her Democratic rivals.

Of the three current Democratic candidates already in the race—Mike Davey, Alexander Fornino, and Richard Lamondin—Davey fared best, trailing Salazar 45% to 38%. The others polled at 35% and 34%, showing no Democrat has consolidated support yet. But if Levine Cava enters the race, she could instantly shift the dynamic.

Democrats have taken notice. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already tagged Florida’s 27th as a “District in Play” for 2026. That designation comes on the heels of surprise Democratic over-performance in recent Florida special elections, where Republican margins in deep-red districts shrank by double digits compared to Trump’s 2024 victories.

Salazar’s district, which includes Miami, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, and other parts of Miami-Dade, has a heavily Hispanic electorate—about 70% according to the Kaplan poll. Voters cited the economy (44%) and immigration (15%) as top election issues, suggesting Salazar’s DIGNITY Act may not be resonating as positively as intended.

What was once considered a safe seat for Republicans is quickly turning into a political minefield. Salazar won reelection in 2024 by nearly 21 points. Now, barely a year later, she’s underwater in the polls—an ominous sign for a lawmaker already under fire from her party’s base.

With 2026 looming and momentum shifting, the backlash against Salazar’s immigration push may be just beginning.