Campaign arm of Congressional Hispanic Caucus ‘enthusiastically’ backs Robin Pegeuro for CD 27

The campaign apparatus of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wants to see Democrat Robin Peguero unseat Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar next year.

CHC Bold PAC, a Democratically aligned organization that prioritizes increasing Latino representation in Congress, just released a list of three new endorsements, including Peguero, the son of Dominican and Ecuadorian immigrants who worked for years as a federal prosecutor.

“BOLD PAC is enthusiastically endorsing Robin Peguero for Florida’s 27th Congressional District. Robin represents the best of Miami,” CHC Bold PAC Chair Linda Sánchez said in a statement.

“He’s a son of immigrants and a prosecutor who has dedicated his life to justice, fairness, and giving back to the community that raised him. He’s spent his career putting criminals and predators behind bars to make our streets safer. Robin will continue to fight for working families, protect his community, and deliver real results for South Florida.”

Peguero said in a statement that he’s honored to have CHC Bold PAC’s support.

“As a first-generation American, I know the struggles hardworking families face, like trying to decide between making the rent and seeing a doctor. Everyone has a story to tell, and I’m going to fight every day to make sure Floridians have the chance to write theirs,” he said.

“Families like mine need our voices to be heard in the halls of Congress. And Miami deserves a representative who’ll make it his job to fight for us — unlike Congresswoman Salazar, who’s turned her back on us while taking direction from corporations and special interests.”

Peguero’s government bona fides include a stint as an investigator for the congressional Jan. 6 Committee and work as Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat.

Today, he works as a novelist and professor at St. Thomas University College of Law.

His bid to supplant Salazar, a first-generation American of Cuban descent who made her name as a broadcast journalist before entering politics, is not unobstructed. He currently faces two Democratic Primary opponents: entrepreneur Richard Lamondin, who has raised more than $450,000 since launching his campaign in May, and Accountant Alexander Fornino, whose campaign account took in about $25,000.

Peguero raised more than $330,000 in his first full quarter of campaigning.

Former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey, also a Democrat, ended his campaign for CD 27 and endorsed Peguero in August.

Salazar reported raising $681,400 this cycle, with $1.64 million in on-hand cash.

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 won a third term in November by 21 percentage points.