In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Maria Elvira Salazar, the Republican Party candidate running to represent Florida Congressional District 27 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Also in this series, we profile Democratic candidate Lucia Baez-Geller.

This post is part of a series of blogs examining where 2024 Southeastern candidates for state and federal offices stand on key energy and climate issues.

Note: The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Links to reports, candidate websites and outside sources are provided as citizen education tools.

In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Maria Elvira Salazar, the Republican Party candidate running to represent Florida Congressional District 27 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Also in this series, we profile Democratic candidate Lucia Baez-Geller. Election Day is November 5, 2024.

Maria Elvira Salazar was first elected to represent Florida Congressional District 27 in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. Prior to her time in Congress, she had a career in journalism, first reporting for Univision and eventually CNN Español and Telemundo. Salazar went on to host her own political news show for MEGA TV.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Representative Salazar voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which gives federal financial support for clean energy technologies. 

Climate Change

Salazar acknowledges the existence of climate change and its effect on South Florida on her campaign website, where she shares, “Climate change is real, and the evidence is right here in Miami. The water level is rising in at an alarming rate and coastal areas like Miami Beach may become uninhabitable in a matter of decades, not centuries, unless we work to combat the problem.”

Representative Salazar worked with colleagues in the House and Senate to introduce H.R. 6461, the National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act 

Electric Transportation

In 2023, the Congresswoman voted for H.R. 4468, which prohibits the EPA from setting greenhouse gas emissions standards for new cars and trucks.

In the same year, Representative Salazar voted to protect funding for the EPA’s Clean School Bus program. 

Energy Equity and Energy Burden

We were unable to confirm the candidate’s position on this energy-related issue in published media, public records, or the campaign website.

High-Risk Energy: Coal, Nuclear, Oil, Gas 

In 2022, Representative Salazar co-wrote an op-ed in the Miami Herald calling for the Biden administration to resume new oil and gas leases on federal land and expedite approval of all fossil fuel pipeline and energy development. 

Voting Information 

Election Day is November 5. Here are important dates and deadlines to consider, from the Florida Division of Elections:

• Oct. 7, 2024:  Voter registration deadline
• Oct. 24, 2024: Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline (5:00 pm)
• Oct. 26, 2024: Mandatory in-person early voting period begins
• Nov. 2, 2024: Mandatory in-person early voting period ends
• Nov. 5, 2024: General Election Day 
• Nov. 5, 2024: Vote-by-mail ballot return deadline (7:00 pm)
• Nov. 15, 2024: Vote-by-mail ballot return deadline for military and overseas citizen voters

*Visit Vote-by-Mail and Military and Overseas Citizens Voting for information about deadlines to send a vote-by-mail ballot, to request a vote-by-mail ballot and to return vote by a mail ballot.

** Due to Hurricane Helene, Governor DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-212 making changes to election rules for some residents of the counties most affected by Helene. Hurricane Milton may affect voting as well. Check herefor the latest information.

Find additional important election information here.

#CandidatesOnEnergy2024

Featured Image Courtesy of Ryan Parker on Unsplash