Lois Frankel backs Robin Peguero, says he’s ‘uniquely positioned’ to win race for CD 27

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel is joining a widening tent of supporters backing Democrat Robin Peguero’s campaign for Florida’s 27th Congressional District.

Frankel, a two-time Congresswoman representing parts of Palm Beach County, said Peguero has what it takes to “flip this seat and change the trajectory of South Florida.”

“As a prosecutor and educator, Robin has a proven record of fighting for affordability and public safety. And as a first-generation Latino leader, he is uniquely positioned to connect with voters,” she said in a statement.

“I am proud to endorse Robin and to get to work on his behalf.”

Frankel, who previously served as West Palm Beach Mayor and the Florida House Democratic Leader, is the first member of Florida’s Democratic congressional delegation to endorse Peguero in the CD 27 race.

Her nod adds to others from Miami-Dade School Board member and former state Rep. Joe Geller, Key Biscayne Council member Franklin Caplan, Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro, Cutler Bay Council member B.J. Duncan, former Congresswoman and Cabinet Secretary Donna Shalala, former state Reps. Annie Betancourt and J.C. Planas, former Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson and former South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard.

The political arms of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus have also endorsed Peguero.

He faces two other Democrats, accountant Alexander Fornino and entrepreneur Richard Lamondin, in an August 2026 Primary. A fourth Democratic registrant for the contest, former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey, dropped out of the race and endorsed Peguero in August.

The winner of the Democratic Primary is likely to face CD 27’s incumbent, Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar, who has one Primary challenger, Vincent Arias.

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.