Former Jan. 6 Lawyer Launches Congressional Bid in Florida

Robin Peguero, a former lawyer for the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, announced his candidacy for Congress in Florida as a Democrat. He is challenging Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar.

Peguero, 39, stated that he is running because he believes Salazar has not adequately opposed President Donald Trump on issues such as his deportation program and tax and spending cuts. He emphasized his concern that Salazar has not taken a strong stance against the president.

Before his involvement with the January 6 committee, Peguero worked as a homicide prosecutor in Miami from 2014 until September 2021. He then served as investigative counsel for the committee until its dissolution in 2021. Following this, he became chief of staff for Representative Glenn Ivey until January 2024. Since then, he has been teaching law in Miami.

Salazar has represented Florida’s 27th Congressional District, which includes much of Miami and its southern suburbs, since 2021. The district, which has a predominantly Hispanic population, has recently shown a shift towards Republican support.

Peguero has identified affordability as his primary focus, encompassing healthcare, grocery costs, and gas prices. He believes the government's primary responsibility is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

Peguero highlighted his experience as a prosecutor in Miami as valuable when he served as investigative counsel for the January 6 committee. He aimed to present evidence of the events to the American people, hoping they could decide how to address the situation and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Peguero criticized the new immigration detention center in the Everglades, calling it a "PR gimmick." He supports deporting violent criminals but opposes the deportation of long-term, hardworking individuals. He believes voters did not support mass deportations without due process but rather border security and the deportation of violent criminals.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted Salazar's seat as one of 35 they aim to win in the upcoming election. Peguero joins other Democrats in the race, including former Key Biscayne mayor Mike Davey, entrepreneur Richard Lamondin, and accountant Alexander Fornino.