Maria Elvira Salazar’s victory in defeating Rep. Donna Shalala in 2020 was the biggest upset of the election cycle. RJC is proud to have supported Salazar, a daughter of Cuban immigrants who distinguished herself as a television journalist before entering politics. Now serving her first term in a Florida House district that went Democrat at the presidential level, she is a leader on the Foreign Affairs Committee and a top target of Democrats. In contrast to J Street-backed Shalala, Salazar describes herself as an “unabashed” supporter of Israel.