Shocker: Obama Won Cuban-Americans In Florida

The one group of  Florida voters that have been reliable Republican for decades have been Cuban-Americans. As other Latino groups drifted further and further into the Democratic column, this group remained loyal to the GOP thanks in no small part to decades of anti-Communism and the GOP’s strident tone and policies against the Castro regime in Havana. Now, there are signs that this may be changing:

When it came to Hispanic voters, 60% chose the President while 29% cast their ballots for the former Massachusetts governor.

But Mitt Romney came far closer with Cuban American voters, picking up 47% of their vote, while President Obama grabbed 49%.

Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, Race and Politics, US Politics, , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Anderson says:

    That bodes ill for future GOP prospects. The old guard is dying off.

  2. Tillman says:

    Who knows, we might lift restrictions on Cuba, allow travel and trade, and then finally invade and conquer them, spitting in the face of the long-dead Soviets establish normal relations for once.

  3. Bill says:

    A Democratic Cuban American unseated an incumbent Congressman in Miami-Dade County too.

  4. bill says:

    well, castro’s no threat to the younger gen- and who listens to their parents anymore……until you grow up and realize they were usually right?

  5. Jr says:

    Finally got over the Bay of Pigs, eh?

  6. Rosie says:

    The recent Cuban immigrants come to the US for economic reasons.
    They are fully indoctrinated Communists. The communist elite in Cuba
    are sending their children and grandchildren out of Cuba to live a
    better life. They are not the same Cubans who let in the first waves seeking freedom.

  7. deathcar2000 says:

    Rosie is not telling the truth or is completely confused. Recent Cuban immigrants are a very, very, very small group. But second and in some cases third geration cubans still call themself cuban and are voting for the Democrats. First generation Cubans still vote Republican. Rosie is makin’ belive that some giant Commie Cuban invasion is flooding south florida and voting Lefty in is a lie. I have a huge Cuban family, frequently make trips to Hialeah and Miami Lakes to see the folks. have an office in downtown Miami no too far away from Little Havana “calle ocho” and no such demographic change is afoot. Miami and Doral are becoming more and more Venezuelan and South American, but no recent giant Cuban influx.

  8. Barry says:

    @Rosie: Which, by GOP lights, means that ‘Kubunz is Evul Librulz’. Which should alienate even more of them.

    It’s amazing to watch positive feedback loops in action.

  9. MM says:

    well, castro’s no threat to the younger gen- and who listens to their parents anymore……until you grow up and realize they were usually right?

    Castro is dying. he is no threat to me, nor anyone I know. Why should I care about a tinpot dictator on a poor island?