‘The party of the Cubans’: How Republicans courted a key South Florida vote

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Cuban American voters in Florida, especially in Miami-Dade County, remain an important Republican base even as some residents express frustration over immigration and other issues. The article, published Aug. 14, 2026, says the community is the largest Cuban American concentration in the United States, with about 1.9 million Cuban Americans in Florida and at least 900,000 in Miami-Dade alone.

The piece traces Republican support for Cuban Americans to decades of outreach, arguing that the party built loyalty through anti-communist messaging and sustained attention to exile communities, particularly during the Reagan era. It also notes that Democrats have struggled to win over many Cuban American voters, with past flashpoints such as the Elian Gonzalez case contributing to mistrust. A Florida International University professor quoted by Al Jazeera says Cuban Americans are still likely to back Republicans unless that pattern changes over time.

Looking ahead to Florida’s Aug. 18 primaries and the November midterm elections, both parties are trying to mobilize this electorate. Al Jazeera says Republicans are canvassing aggressively in Miami-Dade, sometimes using culturally tailored tactics such as offering espresso cups at the door. Miami-Dade Republican Party chair Kevin Cooper told the outlet he expects his party to continue winning Cuban American support.

The article also highlights Republican State Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, a Cuban American lawmaker seeking re-election, as an example of candidates appealing to the community through hardline Cuba policy positions and visible campaign activity.