Former federal prosecutor Robin Peguero has qualified to run for Florida’s 27th Congressional District, setting up a Democratic Primary showdown with former news anchor Eliott Rodriguez in one of the Sunshine State’s most closely watched contests.
Peguero’s qualification, effective Friday just hours before the deadline, ends speculation about whether he would switch races to instead run for neighboring Florida’s 28th Congressional District, where Democrat Hector Mujica withdrew his candidacy this week due to party affiliation strictures.
Multiple sources confirmed with Florida Politics that Mujica had been courting Peguero to replace him in CD 28, where retired Air Force Commander Phil Ehr is now the only active Democrat running.
Peguero ultimately didn’t bite.
“I’m a fighter. I’ve been fighting for this district on the trail for the past year. I fought on behalf of democracy as an investigator on the January 6th Committee. And I am the most prepared candidate to fight for families squeezed by rising costs while Donald Trump raised tariffs, started a war in Iran on the taxpayers’ dime, slashed Social Security and Medicare and revoked TPS,” Peguero said in a statement.
“I’ve taken Trump on before, and I’ll do it again in Congress.”
A lawyer who served as an investigator for the congressional Jan. 6 Committee, Peguero entered the CD 27 race in July 2025, raising $100,000 in his first day running. This week, he reported crossing the $900,000 mark in his bid to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar.
Along the way, he’s collected a wave of endorsements, with backers including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, Latino Victory Fund, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, Maryland U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, state Rep. Ashley Gantt, civil rights historian Marvin Dunn, and a roster of current and former South Florida elected officials.
Polling conducted last month found Peguero and Rodriguez are in a dead heat for the Democratic nomination in CD 27, with 40% of respondents saying they’d support Peguero compared to 43% who preferred Rodriguez, who qualified Tuesday.
CD 27, one of three Florida districts that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has highlighted as “in play,” covers Miami, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, Pinecrest, North Bay Village, South Miami, West Miami and several unincorporated areas.
The Primary Election is on Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.