Mitch Rosenwald endorses Luis Salazar’s bid to reclaim HD 64 for Democrats

Democratic Rep. Mitch Rosenwald is backing Luis Salazar’s bid for House District 64, adding to the Tampa Democrat’s growing list of endorsements in the race to succeed Tampa Republican Rep. Susan Valdés.

Valdés entered the House as a Democrat and served as such for most of her tenure, including all of her elections. But she left the Democratic Party shortly after her final re-election in 2024. HD 64 leans Democratic by voter registration, setting up a high-stakes race as Democrats look to reclaim the seat following Valdés’ party switch and as she faces term limits. 

Salazar’s campaign called Rosenwald’s endorsement a sign of support for his platform built on community-driven leadership.

“Luis Salazar represents the very best of grassroots leadership,” Rosenwald said. “He’s earned the trust of his community by showing up, building bridges, and fighting for people who too often feel unheard. I’m confident he will be a strong and effective voice for District 64.”

Salazar — a Tampa-based creative, community advocate and political organizer — emphasizes grassroots engagement and coalition building, particularly among Latino and LGBTQ+ communities. He currently serves as President of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party’s LGBTQ+ Caucus and has worked on voter outreach and civic engagement efforts across the region.

His campaign is largely focused on addressing rising insurance costs for local families, including calls for increased oversight of insurers, tying public subsidies to rate relief and expanding consumer protections.

“I’m honored to have Rep. Rosenwald’s support,” Salazar said. “His leadership and dedication to serving our communities are an example of what public service should be. I look forward to continuing to build a campaign that reflects the values and needs of District 64.”

Rosenwald’s endorsement follows earlier backing from newly elected Democratic Sen. Brian Nathan, coming off the heels of an upset win against GOP candidate Josie Tomkow in a Special Election for Senate District 14.

During the first quarter, Salazar raised more than $13,000. That brings his total raised to nearly $29,000 — predominantly from small donations of $10 to $100, plus a handful of donations ranging between $200 and $750.

Salazar launched his campaign last year with support from labor leaders. He faces Jose Sanchez Sanchez and former Tampa City Council member Mike Suarez in the Democratic Primary. Suarez has raised more than $64,000 through his campaign account, including nearly $20,000 in Q1. His affiliated PC, Embrace Florida’s Future, has raised nearly $19,000 including $1,500 in Q1. Sanchez Sanchez has raised nearly $7,200 and contributed another $9,800 in loans to his campaign.

Republicans Amaro Lionheart and Angel Ramos have also filed for the contest. Lionheart, who filed Dec. 10, has raised $4,000 through his campaign account. His political committee, the Friends of Amaro Lionheart, has not reported funds raised for Q1 after reporting Q4 financial information late, records show. Meanwhile the Ramos campaign, which filed to run on March 23, has raised just under $1,400.