Trump first Republican candidate to win Miami-Dade since 1988

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Associated Press
6 Nov 2024 04:37

Compared to 2020, Florida has shifted significantly to the right in this presidential election cycle.

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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a faith event at the Concord Convention Center, on October 21, 2024, in Concord, N.C. (AP)

Unofficial election results indicate that former President Donald J. Trump claimed victory in Miami-Dade County, Florida, marking a significant shift from the county's traditional Democratic stronghold to a Republican win, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Historically, Miami-Dade had been a key base for Democrats, with a large turnout of liberal voters, many of whom had relocated from New York City and other Northeastern areas. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the county by a 30-point margin.

As Florida has shifted from a battleground state to one that leans more reliably Republican, Miami-Dade County has followed suit, according to AP. Historically, Hispanics in the county seemed to favor Democrats, particularly in the 2008 and 2012 elections. However, in recent years, that trend has reversed, with many shifting toward the right.

In 2020, President Biden won the county, but by a narrower margin of just seven points.

Trump defeated Harris on Tuesday, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to win Miami-Dade County since George H.W. Bush in 1988. Trump also claimed victory in Florida, according to The Associated Press, with early results showing him leading both Miami-Dade and the state by double-digit margins.

In 2022, Republicans had already flipped Miami-Dade when Governor Ron DeSantis defeated former Governor and US Representative Charlie Crist by more than 11 points. However, Crist, a former Republican, failed to generate significant enthusiasm among Democrats, especially in a midterm election with lower voter turnout.

Democrats lose Florida, 'too costly'

According to the AP, this year's presidential election seemed less favorable for Republicans in Miami-Dade County. However, Vice President Harris's campaign and national Democrats invested very little in Florida, considering the state too costly to compete in. As a result, down-ballot Democrats had to rely on the limited resources of the Florida Democratic Party, along with their modest advertising and voter turnout efforts.

Even before Election Day, Republicans were optimistic about Miami-Dade's shift in their direction. Last week, Senator Marco Rubio visited an early voting site in West Miami, his hometown, where he remarked in Spanish that Trump's prospects in the county were strong. Hispanics make up roughly 68 percent of Miami-Dade's population.

“In Miami-Dade, Democrats used to win by 20, 25 points,” Rubio said.

But the Democratic Party has “lost touch with common sense,” he added, “and that is why we have seen so many people join the Republican Party.”

It is worth noting that compared to 2020, Florida has shifted significantly to the right in this presidential election cycle.

Miami-Dade County experienced the largest shift, moving 18 percentage points to the right. This change was significant enough to flip the county from Democratic to Republican in this election cycle.