GOP Lawmakers Link Immigration Enforcement to Midterm Pressure
South Florida Republicans say the administration's immigration crackdown may have cost the party ground in tight midterm races.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Immigration
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U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) said immigration enforcement may have hurt Republicans in South Florida, where Reps. María Elvira Salazar and Mario Díaz-Balart narrowly won reelection. A Doral councilwoman is also pushing to repeal the city's 287(g) agreement with ICE.
Why it matters
The narrow margins in Florida's congressional races, compared with Díaz-Balart's 40-point win two years earlier, suggest shifting Hispanic voter sentiment in South Florida. The debate could shape how Florida Republicans approach enforcement policy and immigration reform ahead of future elections.
Díaz-Balart won reelection by 40 points two years before the 2026 midterms, while Salazar narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Elliott Rodriguez in Florida's 27th Congressional District. The district race is close enough to trigger a recount, and the final result has not been confirmed.
The players
Carlos Gimenez
Gimenez is a Republican U.S. Representative from Florida who has represented Miami-Dade County and served as Miami-Dade County mayor before his congressional tenure.
Mario Díaz-Balart
Díaz-Balart is a Republican U.S. Representative from Florida who has long represented a Miami-area district and is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.
María Elvira Salazar
Salazar is a Republican U.S. Representative from Florida known for her Cuban-American background and for breaking with Trump over immigration enforcement in a campaign ad.
The details
Gimenez made the comments on Fox News, contrasting the narrow 2026 results with past margins and saying many Hispanic voters in South Florida were unhappy with the administration's enforcement. Salazar previously broke with Trump over the immigration crackdown in a campaign ad, and Trump told 60 Minutes his deportation policy 'might be too tough.'
Timeline
Two years before the 2026 midterms, Díaz-Balart won reelection by 40 points.
The 2026 midterm elections narrowed the margins for Salazar and Díaz-Balart.
Political Context
Hispanic voters in South Florida have moved in notable ways across recent election cycles, which Republicans have long counted on as a base. The 2026 results suggest enforcement policy may now be testing that coalition's durability.
Florida voters in immigrant-heavy communities may see shifts in how their representatives approach enforcement and reform. The outcome of close races like the 27th District recount will determine which policy priorities gain traction in Washington.
The takeaway
Narrow results in once-safe Republican districts show that immigration policy can move voters quickly. Readers should watch how Florida's delegation responds in the next legislative session.
Further reading
For more on the policy debate, explore Florida immigration coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC 6 South Florida.
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