Democratic Shakeup: Lamondin Switches Race from Congress to State Senate

Entrepreneur Richard Lamondin launches challenge against Republican incumbent Alexis Calatayud for Florida's State Senate District 38.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:50pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a fractured, overlapping podium or lectern in warm earth tones and cool blues, conveying a sense of political change and turbulence.A political shakeup in Florida's 27th Congressional District sets the stage for a high-stakes Democratic primary battle.Today in Miami

There's been a major shift in the political landscape for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in Florida. Entrepreneur Richard Lamondin has announced he's switching races, launching a challenge against Republican incumbent Alexis Calatayud for Florida's State Senate District 38 instead of running for Congress in the 27th District. This narrows the field in the Democratic primary for the 27th Congressional District, where former news anchor Eliott Rodriguez is touting a burst in fundraising and polling.

Why it matters

Lamondin's decision to switch races shakes up the political dynamics in both the state senate and congressional districts that represent Key Biscayne. It consolidates the Democratic field in the 27th Congressional District race, where Rodriguez and Robin Peguero are now the frontrunners. The outcome of these races could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress and the Florida state legislature.

The details

Lamondin announced on Tuesday that he's launching a challenge against Republican incumbent Alexis Calatayud for Florida's State Senate District 38, which covers Key Biscayne. This move narrows the field in the Democratic primary for Florida's 27th Congressional District, where former news anchor Eliott Rodriguez has reported raising $312,000 in the first 21 days of his campaign and holding a 27-point lead in a recent poll. Rodriguez is now in a head-to-head battle with Robin Peguero, a former Miami homicide prosecutor and Harvard-educated attorney who served as a senior investigator for the House Jan. 6 Committee.

  • On Tuesday, Richard Lamondin announced he's switching races and launching a challenge against Republican incumbent Alexis Calatayud for Florida's State Senate District 38.
  • On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, former news anchor Eliott Rodriguez announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Congress from Florida's 27th District.
  • On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Democrat and former Miami-Dade homicide prosecutor Robin Peguero announced his campaign to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar in Florida's 27th Congressional District.

The players

Richard Lamondin

An entrepreneur who has switched races, launching a challenge against Republican incumbent Alexis Calatayud for Florida's State Senate District 38 instead of running for Congress in the 27th District.

Alexis Calatayud

The Republican incumbent for Florida's State Senate District 38.

Eliott Rodriguez

A former news anchor who is running as a Democrat for Congress in Florida's 27th District, reporting a strong fundraising start and holding a lead in early polling.

Robin Peguero

A former Miami homicide prosecutor and Harvard-educated attorney who served as a senior investigator for the House Jan. 6 Committee, and is now running as a Democrat for Congress in Florida's 27th District.

María Elvira Salazar

The Republican U.S. Representative currently holding the seat in Florida's 27th Congressional District.

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What they’re saying

“This is what consolidation looks like.”

— Fernand Amandi, Eliott Rodriguez's campaign strategist

What’s next

The Democratic primary for Florida's 27th Congressional District is scheduled for August 18th, where Eliott Rodriguez and Robin Peguero will face off to determine who will challenge Republican incumbent María Elvira Salazar in the general election.

The takeaway

Lamondin's decision to switch races has shaken up the political landscape in both the state senate and congressional districts representing Key Biscayne. The consolidated Democratic field in the 27th Congressional District race sets up a high-stakes battle between Eliott Rodriguez and Robin Peguero, with the outcome potentially impacting the balance of power in Congress.