María Salazar (27)

María Elvira Salazar, born on November 1, 1961, in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, is the daughter of Cuban exiles. She has had a distinguished career as a journalist, earning five Emmy Awards and conducting notable interviews with figures such as Fidel Castro, Nicolás Maduro, and Augusto Pinochet. Salazar has worked with major Spanish-language networks, including Telemundo, Univision, and CNN en Español. In 2020, she was elected as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 27th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Donna Shalala. She was re-elected in 2022 and 2024. Salazar currently serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs as Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee and on the House Committee on Financial Services.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Miami
• Master of Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government

Political Experience

• Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020, representing Florida's 27th Congressional District
• Serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs as Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee
• Member of the House Committee on Financial Services
• Advocate for human rights and democracy, particularly concerning Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua
• Proponent of immigration reform, introducing the Dignity Act to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
• Supporter of environmental resiliency initiatives in her community

Salazar's background as a journalist and her commitment to individual rights and liberties have shaped her legislative priorities and advocacy in Congress.