Ex-Jan. 6 Committee Attorney Launches Democratic Congressional Campaign in Trump-Won Florida District

Robin Peguero, a former lawyer for the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, announced on Tuesday his candidacy for Congress in Florida as a Democrat. He is set to challenge Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar in the upcoming election. Peguero, 39, highlighted his campaign’s motivation by criticizing Salazar for not adequately opposing former President Donald Trump on issues such as his deportation policies and significant tax and spending cuts.

He expressed his frustration, stating that Salazar has not meaningfully confronted the president during her time in office. Before entering the political arena, Peguero served as a homicide prosecutor in Miami until September 2021, when he transitioned to his role on the January 6 committee. After the committee’s dissolution, he became Chief of Staff for Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., and has taught law in Miami since then.

Salazar, who has represented Florida’s 27th Congressional District since 2021, sees a predominantly Hispanic base that has recently leaned more Republican, evidenced by Trump’s significant electoral support in the region. Peguero’s campaign emphasizes affordability, addressing essential issues such as healthcare, grocery costs, and gas prices. He believes that ensuring access to the American dream is the government’s foremost responsibility.

His background as a prosecutor also informs his approach to handling the challenges that the nation faces. One notable issue he plans to tackle is the new immigration detention center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” which he criticizes as a mere public relations stunt. While he supports the deportation of violent criminals, Peguero is critical of systematic deportations affecting hard-working individuals who have established long-term lives in the U.S.

As he enters the race, Peguero joins other Democratic candidates, including former Key Biscayne mayor Mike Davey and entrepreneur Richard Lamondin, as Democrats gear up to target Salazar’s seat among their broader strategy to regain control of the House.