Latinos leave the Democrats in droves and push DeSantis towards a crushing victory
- Republicans voters in Florida are using early voting in larger numbers than Democrats, including in the deep blue city of Miami
- It’s a good sign for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seeking a second term
- Miami voting numbers also indicate Hispanics are coming out in droves for GOP
- In Florida, 3.58 million registered voters have voted early overall, according to the United States Elections Project
- And 44% of those have been Republican voters; 38% are Democrats
- In Miami-Dade, nearly 27% of GOP voters had voted by Wednesday, compared to 21% of Democrats
Republicans voters in Florida are using early voting in larger numbers than Democrats, including in the deep blue city of Miami, a sign of high enthusiasm among the GOP and a troubling indicator for President Joe Biden‘s party.
The number of registered Republicans voting early in Miami-Dade County surpassed Democrats on Wednesday – one day after Biden visited the area to campaign for his party’s candidates amid concerns the GOP will win control of the House in next week’s midterm election.
It’s a good sign for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seeking a second term, and for GOP Senator Marco Rubio, who’s also running for re-election.
The Miami voting numbers also indicate Hispanics are coming out in droves for Republicans. The county is nearly 72% Hispanic.
Overall Hispanics represent 12% of the state’s voters. Republicans have been making heavy in-roads with that population since the 2018 election.
About 30% of the Hispanic population in Florida is Cuban, a group that nationwide favors the GOP by 20 points, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.
In Florida, 3.58 million registered voters have voted early overall, according to the United States Elections Project. And 44% of those have been Republican voters compared to the 38% who are Democrats.
In Miami-Dade, nearly 27% of GOP voters had voted by Wednesday, compared to 21% of Democrats.
Miami-Dade is the most populous county in Florida with more than 1.5 million registered voters. It, along with Broward and Palm Beach counties, have been Democratic strong holds for years.
If those numbers stay on track, DeSantis could become the first Republican governor to win in Miami-Dade since Jeb Bush in 2002. Only Broward County has more registered Democrats in Florida.
Democrats have been worried about a lack of enthusiasm among their base, which was one of the reasons Biden was in the state.
The president criticized DeSantis as ‘Donald Trump incarnate’ at a fundraiser for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist.