Workers at the Miami-Dade Elections headquarters counted nearly 250,000 ballots through the night before finalizing the tally on Tuesday. Salazar received 124,519 votes, or 50.2%, while Rodriguez received 123,433 votes, or 49.8%.

The race was one of the most closely watched and expensive contests in South Florida, reflecting the district's status as a key battleground. Salazar, a former television journalist and daughter of Cuban exiles, first won the seat in 2022 after flipping it from Democratic control. She previously served in the U.S. House from 2002 to 2004.

In a statement Tuesday evening, Salazar thanked supporters: "Thank you, Miami!"

In an Election Night interview, Salazar attributed the tight race to immigration, saying the issue resonated strongly with voters.

"It was immigration," she said. "This gives me great strength to go back to my party, and without insulting anybody... it's just a matter of course-correcting and sending the right message to the voters. We gotta give the voters what they need: affordability, the economy, lower gas prices, but at the same time, immigration. Immigration is the second-most important topic across the board for Republicans and for Americans right now."

Salazar serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Small Business. Her new term begins January 3, 2027.

The narrow margin underscores the political divide in a district that includes parts of Miami and Miami-Dade County. Rodriguez, a former television journalist, ran a competitive campaign focused on affordability and health care, but ultimately fell short.

The recount, required under Florida law when the margin is within 0.5 percentage points, was conducted under the supervision of the Miami-Dade Elections Department. Final certified results are expected later this week.