Lev Parnas, Former Trump Ally, Announces Run for Congress as Democrat

Parnas, a key figure in Trump's first impeachment, plans to run in Florida's 27th Congressional District.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-born American businessman who was a key figure in President Trump's first impeachment, has announced he will run for Congress in Florida's 27th District as a Democrat. Parnas, who later turned against Trump, says he is running because he knows 'the system - Donald Trump's system - from the inside' and wants to speak 'truth to power'.

Why it matters

Parnas's candidacy represents the latest chapter in his reinvention from a Trump ally to an anti-Trump politician. His run in the heavily Hispanic 27th District of Miami-Dade County could provide an interesting test case for Democratic messaging and appeal in a region that has trended more Republican in recent elections.

The details

Parnas, 54, was arrested in 2019 and accused of funneling Russian money into American political campaigns. He later testified before Congress about his unsuccessful efforts on behalf of Rudy Giuliani to link the Bidens to corruption in Ukraine, which figured prominently in Trump's first impeachment. Parnas was convicted of federal campaign finance violations in 2021 and sentenced to 20 months in prison.

  • Parnas announced his campaign on March 5, 2026.
  • Parnas was arrested in 2019 and convicted in 2021.

The players

Lev Parnas

A Ukrainian-born naturalized American citizen who helped Trump and Rudy Giuliani try to find damaging information in Ukraine about Hunter Biden.

María Elvira Salazar

The Republican incumbent in Florida's 27th Congressional District, which Parnas is running to represent.

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What they’re saying

“I'm running because I know the system — Donald Trump's system — from the inside, because, remember, I helped build MAGA.”

— Lev Parnas (Substack)

“I came to a point where I felt that talking was kind of cheap. I needed to try to see what I could do, and I decided that the way I could help our country, and the best way that I could help our district, was throwing my hand up for the seat.”

— Lev Parnas (Interview)

What’s next

Parnas, as a felon, will be unable to vote for himself in the election. The redistricting process in Florida, which could impact the boundaries of the 27th District, is also still ongoing.

The takeaway

Parnas's candidacy represents an intriguing political shift, as a former Trump ally turns against the former president and seeks elected office as a Democrat. His background and connections to the Trump administration could make him a compelling, if controversial, challenger in the 27th District.