Democratic Miami entrepreneur Richard Lamondin added another $200,000 last quarter in his bid to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar in Florida’s 27th Congressional District.
The latest numbers, as reported by his campaign, combined with prior fundraising would bring his total gains to nearly $500,000.
Official fundraising reports are due Oct. 15.
Lamondin, the founder and CEO of environmental services company eco fi[1], credits contributions from more than 1,400 “grassroots donors” whose support “reflects our campaign’s strength and discipline to deliver a big win for our community.”
“I’ve built a business from the ground up, creating hundreds of jobs and helping people lower their bills,” the first-time candidate said in a statement.
“We’re bringing that same focus and determination to this campaign so Miami-Dade families can finally have someone in their corner who shows up and has their back.”
Lamondin is one of three Democrats competing to supplant Salazar, along with accountant Alexander Fornino and former federal prosecutor Robin Peguero. The likelihood of doing so is among the highest in the Sunshine State, according to the Democratic National Campaign Committee (DCCC), which designated CD 27 as one of three districts “in play[2]” for the 2026 election cycle.
In recent weeks, Lamondin has been holding open town halls[3] with CD 27 voters, something his campaign says Salazar has not done since she was elected in 2020. He and Peguero also called Salazar out for “refusing to come to the table[4]” to discuss health provisions Democrats want tied to a federal funding bill, which spurred a government shutdown this week.
Scott Arceneaux, a senior adviser to Lamondin’s campaign, noted that many of his client’s donors gave small contributions, making the total raised all the more impressive and indicative of “broad community enthusiasm.”
“Richard’s vision (is) to make Miami-Dade more affordable, (and) our campaign is proving we have the operation and momentum to win next November and send a fighter for Miami’s families to Congress,” Arceneaux said in a statement.
“South Floridians are ready for something different: A leader who comes out from behind the camera, shows up, listens, and fights for them when it matters. We flip this seat, we flip the House.”
CD 27 covers Miami, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, Pinecrest, North Bay Village, South Miami, West Miami and several unincorporated areas.
Salazar, 63, won re-election last year by nearly 21 points.
References
- ^ eco fi (goecofi.com)
- ^ in play (dccc.org)
- ^ town halls (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ refusing to come to the table (floridapolitics.com)