Overview:

In the 1990s a clear majority of Latinos in South Florida were Cuban. This is no longer the case today. Demographics have shifted substantially over the past 30 years, where today 55% of Latinos in South Florida are not Cuban American. While the region has a total Latino population of almost 2.5 million, only about 1.1 million are Cuban. The remaining 1.4 million are non-Cuban and composed of large South American, Central American, Puerto Rican, Mexican and Dominican populations.

Given the diversity within the Latino population, voting data make clear that it is not accurate to speak about “the Latino vote” as one cohesive bloc. A close look at the data reveals that while there are patterns of cohesive voting, there are separate and distinct Latino voting blocs that vary by geography and ethnicity. This report examines voting patterns by Latino ethnicity in South Florida using official precinct election data.