Republicans have continued to gain ground in the Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade in a development that alarms Florida Democrats.
Already, Republicans are within one percent of Democrats in Miami-Dade in early voting totals, with Democrats getting 118,888 votes and Republicans getting 117,974 votes.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, END OF NOV. 1 EARLY + MAIL-IN VOTING:
🚨 REP within .07%, or 214 votes of DEM
🔵 118,188 Democrats
🔴 117,974 Republicans
✅ Polls open Nov. 2, 7AM— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) November 1, 2022
Republicans have been able to gain a foothold in Miami-Dade as a result of outreach to South Americans and Cubans.
In some cases, the outreach has focused on people still in the naturalization process, with Republicans hosting citizenship clinics for recent immigrants attempting to get permanent residency in the United States.
Ovidio Rodriguez, an immigrant from Cuba, said that the Democratic Party reminds him of the current regime in Cuba.
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“I believe that I should always look at both sides before making a decision. But seeing how terrible things are going since the election that just passed, this representation from the Democratic Party, how poorly they are doing … I just see an incredible similarity to the things that happen in my country and the rest of Latin America,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez is not alone, as DeSantis is expected to win both the Cuban and Hispanic votes in the upcoming midterm elections.
🚨POLL🚨
According to a new NBC/Telemundo poll, DeSantis leads by 7 among Hispanics in FL.
☑️ Winning 72% of Cubans
☑️ +22 points w/ Hispanic Independents
☑️ Gains w/ Puerto Ricans
☑️ Winning non-Cuban LatAm voters by 10
☑️ 50% favor migrant relocationshttps://t.co/PmJ7dV2Xrs— Giancarlo Sopo (@GiancarloSopo) October 24, 2022
Even Democratic activists in the county admit that DeSantis is making significant inroads in the area and could be the first Republican to win there since Jeb Bush in 2002.
“It’s not only possible, but it’s really on track right now,” said Devon Murphy-Anderson, who co-founded a Democratic voter outreach operation aimed at Hispanic voters.
Crist made a last-minute appeal to Miami-Dade voters on Tuesday, holding a rally with President Joe Biden in the at-risk county.
MIAMI-DADE — Join President @JoeBiden, Chief @ValDemings and I for a grassroots rally to get out the vote and defeat Ron DeSantis in one week!
RSVP: https://t.co/St0hI1W3L0
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) October 31, 2022
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, a Cuban-American herself, expressed optimism that Republicans will win Miami-Dade in the midterm elections.
“We have seen so many Hispanics flock to the Republican Party here in Miami-Dade County,” Nuñez said in a get-out-the-vote rally. “And I’m going to make a prediction right now – and those of you that are recording the news, you can quote me on this: We’re going to win Miami-Dade County come Nov. 8, 2022.”
Alex Berrios, a Hispanic Democratic activist in the Miami-Dade area, said that Democrats have effectively run out of time to persuade Hispanic voters on crucial issues such as the economy.
YouGov Poll: 60% of registered voters think the economy is getting worse – up 8 points from a month ago.
Getting better: 11% (-5 from Sept. 5)
Getting worse: 60% (+8)The Economy: Better/Worse
Independents: 7/66
White: 10/65
Black: 14/45
Hispanic: 13/54https://t.co/6ZArzakaAH pic.twitter.com/iFTLz8LbFA— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) October 9, 2022
“To me, what this says is that many Latino voters can still be persuaded if the message is delivered,” Berrios said. “The effort has to be made, and at this point in the election, that ship has probably sailed. We are pretty close to Election Day.”
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Be sure to read: Dems in Panic Mode as Florida Offers ‘Warning’ About Hispanic Voters Nationwide
