Rep. María Salazar

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R Florida, 27th (2021-) In Office

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Biographical

Full Name: María Elvira Salazar
Gender: Female
Pronunciation: muh-REE-uh SA-luh-zar
Date of Birth: Nov. 1, 1961 (age: 62)
Place of Birth: Miami, Fla.
Religion: Protestant
Hometown: Coral Gables, Fla.
Place of Residence: Coral Gables, Fla.
Previous Occupation: Former TV journalist

Wikipedia

Amazon.com Author Profile

Family:

Previous relationship Divorced

Previous relationship: Renzo Maietto restaurateur Divorced, 1999

2 children: Martina, Nicoletta

Biography:

Rep. María Elvira Salazar was born in Miami’s Little Havana to Cuban parents who emigrated to the United States, fleeing Cuba due to the arrival of Fidel Castro to power. With only five dollars in their pockets, the pursuit for freedom and the American dream was instilled in Salazar at an early age by her parents. While being raised in Miami and Puerto Rico, Salazar listened as her parents told stories of the oppressive communist regime from which they escaped. Becoming American citizens at the Freedom Tower, Salazar’s parents wanted a better life for their family; they wanted freedom.

That pursuit of freedom and the American Dream shaped Maria Elvira Salazar’s early life and career, and it continues to drive her today. Salazar gr aduated from the University of Miami and later from Harvard University, which she paid for herself. She began a career in journalism covering local stories for Univision.

A rising star in the field of journalism, Salazar’s career took her all over the world. She became the anchor for CNN Español, the first time a major news network had a broadcast fully in Spanish. Salazar then covered the White House and the Gulf War. It was in her next assignment where Salazar witnessed firsthand the price for freedom.

Working again for Univision, Salazar covered the Salvadoran Civil War. She was embedded on the frontlines. She saw the crossfire from the opposing factions. She felt the fear of war. Though at times Salazar came under circumstances where her own life was in danger, she left El Salvador after the war and used the contacts made there to begin reporting in Cuba.

In Cuba, she witnessed the atrocities of the Castro communist government but could not just stand by. Through her reporting, she became a leading voice against Fidel Castro, pointing out the actions of the government and its devastating effects on the people of Cuba. Eventually, Salazar became too vocal for the likes of Castro and the Cuban government.

It was her persistence and passion to uncover the truth in defense of freedom that led to the interview of a lifetime. After years in pursuit and a direct confrontation with him in New York, Salazar was granted an interview with Fidel Castro.

Salazar would go on to be a national news anchorwoman at Telemundo and have a long run with her own top-rated show on Mega TV. Winning five Emmy Awards, she was recognized for her passion for freedom and uncovering oppressive, communist and socialist regimes in Latin America especially in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

In her career Salazar has interviewed a wide range of social and political leaders, including Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Alvaro Uribe, Jose Maria Aznar, Vicente Fox, Juan Manuel Santos, Augusto Pinochet, Nicolas Maduro and, more recently, Juan Guaidó.

Salazar has daughters and resides in Miami. She has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 3, 2021. See more >>

Miscellaneous Links:

Ballotpedia

C-SPAN

GovTrack

Project VoteSmart

Campaign Links:

Email, campaign: mes@mariaelvirasalazar.com

X (Twitter), campaign

Instagram, campaign

Facebook, campaign

Open Secrets political finance profile

YouTube, campaign

Social Networking:

LinkedIn

Facebook, official

X (Twitter), official

YouTube, official

Instagram, official

Official Links:

Website, official

Press Releases

Official press releases »

Education

Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government - MPA (1993-1995)
University of Miami - Bachelor's, communications (1979-1983)
Miami Dade College
Deerborne High School (Coral Gables, Fla.) - Diploma (1979)

Office History

Congressional Offices:

U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 2021-) In Office

Member, 27th Congressional District of Florida

Election Results

2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

27th Congressional District of Florida

María Elvira Salazar, 51.36%
Republican

Donna Edna Shalala, 48.62%
Democrat
2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

27th Congressional District of Florida

Donna Edna Shalala, 51.76%
Democrat

María Elvira Salazar, 45.76%
Republican

Marya Joil, 2.48%
Non-designated

Employment History

Newsmax Media Inc. (2017-2020)

Political Contributor
Fox News Channel (2016-2020)

Political Contributor
27th Congressional District of Florida (2018)

Candidate
Mega TV Inc. (2014-2017)

Primetime Nightly News Anchor
CNN (2013-2014)

Primetime Nightly News Anchor, CNN Latino Miami
Mega TV Inc. (2004-2012)

Primetime Current Affairs Anchor
Telemundo Communications Group (1995-2004)

Primetime Anchor/Senior Foreign Correspondent
Univision Communications Inc. (1989-1995)

Central America Bureau Chief/White House Correspondent
CNN (Jan. 1988-Jan. 1990)

News Anchor
Univision Communications Inc. (Jan. 1983-Jan. 1988)

News Reporter

Associated Organizations

Membership:

Republican Main Street Partnership

Election campaign:

Volunteer service:

Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation Inc. (2016-)
Community Volunteer

Awards

Federal Champion (American Flood Coalition)
Policymaker of the Year (Recording Industry Association of America) (Sept. 2023)
Three Key Award (Unbound Now) (Jan. 2023)
Hero of Main Street (National Retail Federation) (July 2022)
News and Documentary Emmy Award - Outstanding Feature Story (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) (2010)
Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee (Miami Dade College) (2007)
News and Documentary Emmy Award - Outstanding Feature Story (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) (1993)
News and Documentary Emmy Award (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) (1985)
News and Documentary Emmy Award - Outstanding Feature Story (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) (1985)
News and Documentary Emmy Award - Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) (1985)

Activities and Interests

Hobbies: Miami Hurricanes, reading
Languages: Spanish (native or bilingual proficiency), Italian

Publications

Si Dios contigo, quién contra tí (2009)

Official Signature

Contact Information

Email, member official contact form

Office Addresses:

Main Office:

Address:	2162 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-0927
Phone:	202-225-3931

View Larger Map

» District Offices

Privately Financed Travel

2 trips taken between 2022 - 2024 costing $14,932

See map of trips

Trip Destinations:

Trip Sponsors:

» see more

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Annual: 2023, 2022
Election Candidate: 2020, 2019, 2018
Extension Letter: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019
New Hire: 2021
Stock transaction: 05/08/2024, 03/10/2024, 02/08/2024, 01/12/2024, 11/08/2023, 10/04/2023, 06/13/2023, 05/31/2023, 04/25/2023, 03/20/2023, 02/15/2023, 01/15/2023, 12/15/2022, 10/14/2022, 07/22/2022, 06/10/2022
» see more

Congressional Staff

Staff Turnover:

Turnover Index: 0.42
(House Average: 0.25)
» See more

Staff Salary Rate:

Office Median Annual Salary: $76,041.66
» See more

Staff Salaries Paid:

» See full staffer list

» view all salaries

Committees

House Foreign Affairs Committee Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Subcommittee

House Foreign Affairs Committee Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Chair

House Small Business Committee

House Small Business Committee Contracting and Infrastructure Subcommittee

House Small Business Committee Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development Subcommittee

Caucuses

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An Environmental Protection Agency staffer has moved back to the House ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's anticipated "transformational" nomination to head the agency. read more

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