The Democratic rival of the Republican congresswoman attributes her criticism of Trump to the polls.

On September 19, Democratic congressional candidate Eliott Rodríguez addressed a recent campaign video released by Republican incumbent María Elvira Salazar. In the video, Salazar criticized former President Donald Trump, suggesting his rhetoric or actions have gone 'too far.'

Rodríguez, a candidate of Cuban descent, contends that Salazar’s public distancing from Trump is a calculated political maneuver driven by internal polling data rather than a genuine shift in policy or ideology. The dispute highlights the ongoing tensions in the Florida congressional race as both candidates navigate the influence of the former president within the local electorate.