An internal poll shows that Richard Lamondin, one of the Democrats hoping to challenge Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar in District 27, is “within striking distance,” which is closer than one might expect for a newbie with no name recognition. The numbers indicate Lamondin is trailing the incumbent by just three points, which is within the margin of error.
This is good news for his campaign because (1) voters still don’t know who this guy is, (2) the election is almost 18 months away, which is plenty of time to introduce him to them, and (3) a closer look shows the results could be more an indication of how disliked Salazar is, as her unfavorable ratings seem to grow.
Read related: Maria Elvira Salazar may already have a 2026 opponent in Richard Lamondin
And only a little more than 10% were undecided. Again, 18 months out!
Lamondin is a first-time candidate and environmental entrepreneur whose company boasts saving more than 10 billion gallons of water and preventing over 300,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. He is one of two Democrats running for the chance to challenge Salazar next year. Former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey — who lost in last year’s primary against former School Board Member Lucia Baez-Geller — announced he would try again earlier this month. Salazar beat Baez-Geller by more than 20 points, but she was riding Trump’s coattails, which won’t be picking up hitchhikers in 2026.
Read related: Democrat Mike Davey aims to try again for congressional seat in District 27
Furthermore, the poll shows that voters, like those nationwide, are increasingly disapproving of President Donald Trump. A majority of the respondents believe that Congress is doing “poor to very poor” in addressing affordability and quality of life and nearly 50% strongly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. Only a third gave him high marks for that.
Salazar has come under fire recently for her silence and complicity as Trump rolls out his mass detentions and deportations of illegal immigrants, many of whom live in our community, or her district. She was blasted for taking credit when a federal judge stopped the removal of temporary protective status of 350,000 Venezuelan nationals, something her president’s administration appealed. ¡Que cínica! (The Supreme Court on Monday let the Trump Administration go ahead and remove TPS.)
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has put Salazar in the list of vulnerable Republicans and have targeted her in Florida, along with Congress members Cory Mills (CD07 in New Smyrna Beach) and Anna Paulina Luna (CD13 in St. Petersburg).
District 27 covers parts of Miami, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, Pinecrest, North Bay Village, South Miami, West Miami and several unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade.
Read related: Maria Elvira Salazar takes credit for judge extending TPS for Venezuelans
It may seem a bit early for polls about next November’s congressional races, but political consultant Christian Ulvert might be underwhelmed with nothing much to do these days. So he commissioned this poll in mid April. His buddy Michael Worley, at MDW Communications, sampled 555 voters from across District 27 over four days, April 9th to the 12th. The demographic breakdown was 63% Hispanic, 30% White, 2% Black/Caribbean, and 5% other. And 33% of the respondents identified as 
Democrats, 41% as Republicans and 26% as no party affiliation or NPAs.
“This data affirms what we are hearing on the ground: voters are fed up with the status quo and ready for a change,” Ulvert said in a statement. “Richard Lamondin’s message of economic fairness, green job creation, and common-sense leadership is resonating. With national momentum building and local frustration deepening, FL-27 is firmly in play.”
Ulvert and his team are also encouraged by other flips across the country, including in Florida, where Dems in Escambia County recently beat Republican candidates by over 20 points. The special elections last month in Florida’s 1st and 6th congressional districts were won by Republicans but by vastly smaller margins than Trump won in November.
And because Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava — Ulvert’s highest profile client right now — could run for governor in 2026, the poll also shows her favorability as super high, with almost 57% approving her job as mayor and less than 20% having strong disapproval. That’s less than half of the 45% that have strong disapproval of both Trump and Elon Musk.
Only 45% for Musk? That’s the surest sign this poll could be flawed.
Internal poll has Richard Lamondin in striking distance vs Maria Elvira Salazar added by Ladra on
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” The only good Republicans are the ones who have opposed Trump,”
Granted republican party of now is not what it once was it is now the Trump party but Miami ha never had real republicans it has had an assembly line of self serving Cuban criminals who run as Republicans as that here gets them elected .
Zero accountability , working only for special interest perhaps throwing the little people a bread crumb here and there is what they are all about .
The word “poll” is doing a lot of work here. Maybe do your job and stop rewriting campaign press releases.
I would vote for Mike Davey in the Democratic primary, but if Richard Lamondin gets the nomination, I would definitely vote for him over the disastrous, cowardly enabler of Trump, Salazar. We must vote out such Republicans. The only good Republicans are the ones who have opposed Trump, profiles in courage like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger to name two.
” And my poll says Maria Elvira Salazar is so far ahead that you, Ladra, would have to go through great length to make shit up.
Mentirosa!”
The mentirosa is Maria Elvira Salazar .
If ” Non Cubans ” vote in real numbers which NEVER happens lying , self serving Maria Elvira Salazar who even takes credit for what she vetoed will lose .
Most Cubans in Miami would vote for Raúl Castro if he had the letter R in front of his name .
Is this the same Chrisrian Ulvert that had a poll showing the D’s winning across the board in November by 10%? He was only off by 20 points. His polls are worthless, only meant to inspire donors to give to his clients that he eventually wastes. Amandi, Zogby, McLaughlin, anyone else would give reasonable results. Media tends to be suckered by these Ulvert “polls” for a few years. You would think they would call him out on his serious misses.
Need more billboards highlighting Maria Mentira’s lies, deceit, and incompetence. Her and the other congressional cuban toadies are everything that’s wrong with Miami
Pretty sure you have a one-party system in South Florida. Hard to change those stripes lol
considering salazar is likely one of the worst representatives acros the us, i am actually surprised she has anyone still who would vote for her – she lies about what she has done, is a cult member and has served her constituents horrendously…
Ladra,
And my poll says Maria Elvira Salazar is so far ahead that you, Ladra, would have to go through great length to make shit up.
Mentirosa!
FINALLY..SHE IS INEFFECTIVE,. Salazar Cares more about Cuba and Venezuela than Miami Dade. I will be contributing to his campaign. Not because he is a democrat but because she is out of tough with our local reality
I hope this guy prevails, but unfortunately, in Florida, it seems that a Democrat “within striking distance” usually turns out to be a Democrat who loses.
Ladra, I’m not pro Salazar, but this poll seems to be far fetched.