Miami Beach’s newest Commissioner endorses Richard Lamondin for CD 27

Make it three Miami Beach Commissioners backing Democratic entrepreneur Richard Lamondin in Florida’s 27th Congressional District.

Monica Matteo-Salinas, who won a December runoff for the City Commission’s Group 1 seat, is throwing her support behind Lamondin.

She says his business savvy, family values and focus on affordability are a winning combination for Miami-Dade County voters looking to choose someone other than incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar in CD 27.

“Richard knows what it means to start with nothing and build something real. He grew up here. He built a business here. He’s raising his family here. When he talks about rising costs, it’s not theory — it’s his life. That matters to me,” Matteo-Salinas said in a statement.

“Too many families across Miami-Dade are struggling. Housing, health care, and child care are all too expensive. Property insurance is out of control. Infrastructure needs real investment. A simple day out in Miami costs way too much. We need someone in Washington who understands South Florida because he lives it. Richard will make us proud.”

Lamondin is the founder and CEO of ecofi, an environmental service company that says it helped conserve 10 billion gallons of water and prevent over 300,000 metric tons of carbon emissions while cutting customers’ utility bills.

This is his first run at public office, and it’s been a strong one so far. He ended 2025 as the top Democratic Primary fundraiser with more than $700,000 raised this cycle.

He’s also been racking up endorsements, including nods from two of Matteo-Salinas’ Democratic colleagues at City Hall, Miami Beach Commissioners Laura Dominguez and Alex Fernandez.

Others backing Lamondin include state Sen. Shevrin Jones, state Rep. Kevin Chambliss, Miami-Dade School Board member Luisa Santos, former Miami Beach Commissioner David Richardson and former Miami Commissioner Ken Russell.

“This campaign is about more than a Primary. It’s about whether we send a new generation of leadership to Washington or keep recycling the same politics that got us here,” Lamondin said before addressing Matteo-Salinas’ endorsement.

“Commissioner Matteo-Salinas just won decisively because voters are looking for leaders who show up and deliver. That’s exactly the kind of coalition we’re building across Miami-Dade.”

CD 27, one of three Florida districts that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has highlighted as “in play,” covers Miami, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, Pinecrest, North Bay Village, South Miami, West Miami and several unincorporated areas.

Salazar has held the seat since January 2021.