Poll: Annette Taddeo in ‘statistical tie’ with María Elvira Salazar for CD 27

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 11/30/21-Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, speaks during the Senate Criminal Justice Committee meeting, Tuesday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

With just over a month remaining before Election Day, Miami Democratic state Sen. Annette Taddeo is in a “statistical tie” with U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar for Florida’s 27th Congressional District, new internal polling figures released Thursday show.

Sarasota-based firm SEA Polling & Strategic Design surveyed 400 Miami-Dade County residents Oct. 3-5. Thirty-eight percent of respondents identified as Democratic, while 36% were Republican and 26% had no party affiliation.

Pollsters found Taddeo holds an almost 1-point advantage over Salazar heading into the homestretch of this year’s election, with 47% of those polled saying they prefer her over the incumbent.

Meanwhile, 46.3% back Salazar and 6.7% said they are still undecided.

The poll had a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points, meaning the race for CD 27 is a toss-up.

Those planning to vote by mail voiced significantly more support for Taddeo. Fifty-five percent said they plan to vote for her compared to 40% for Salazar and 5% still on the proverbial fence.

“The district holds true to its ticket-splitting reputation with Gov. (Ron) DeSantis building a 6-point advantage over Charlie Crist (50-44) with 6% undecided while Val Demings is locked in a dead heat with Marco Rubio at 47-48 with 5% undecided,” SEA pollsters wrote. “The generic ballot is also dead even at 42-42. The next few weeks will tell the story, but they don’t get much closer than this.”

Taddeo’s campaign manager, Nick Merlino, said SEA’s data reconfirms the feeling Taddeo’s team has had out in the field.

“There is a groundswell of support building behind Annette of Democrats, Independents and Republicans who want real representation — a leader who will always put their families, our district and our country above partisan politics,” he said. “With just 33 days left before the election, we are more confident than ever that we are putting together a winning coalition that will not only flip this district but that will help deliver real results for all Miamians.”

The SEA poll comes one day after former Florida GOP Chair Al Cárdenas broke party ranks for the first time in his 40-year political career to endorse Taddeo over Salazar. A scathing critic of former President Donald Trump, whom he described as a “despicable divider,” Cárdenas said Taddeo “puts her country and her state above herself.”

Salazar has drawn criticism for, among other things, voting against impeaching Trump following the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and repeating his lies about widespread voter fraud.

“To me, that’s a precondition to supporting anyone running for office,” he said. “Is your country more important than your … political career?”