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CUBA BRIEF

Information and Analysis from the
Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies
University of Miami


2012 Presidential Election: Cuban-American Voting
(38 Precincts and over 60,000 voters)

*By Pedro Roig

The State of Florida victory of Presidential candidate Barack Obama in the 2012
elections, led to speculation that the Cuban-American community, primarily Republican, was
shifting its support to the Democratic Party.
Yet when analyzing the voting results in South Florida communities with high
concentrations of Cuban-Americans, the numbers demonstrate that the Republican party still has
majority support.
The Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, University of Miami (UM), conducted
a study and analysis of election data available to the public in the Miami area south of SW 8
th

Street to SW 56
th
Street (Miller) and west of SW 87
th
Avenue to SW 117
th
Avenue. This area,
with 38 precincts, is known for its large Cuban-American community. Findings show that
Republican candidate Mitt Romney comfortably secured over 61% of the votes of this area of
more than 60,000 voters while President Barack Obama was supported by 38%.
This study is ICCAS first presidential election data analysis. We plan to follow the voting
patterns for the Cuban-American community in other cities and unincorporated areas of Dade
County.
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Florida is home to 70% of the more than 2 million Hispanics of Cuban descent in the United
States. This is a significant number since Cuban-Americans have some of the highest voter
turnout in the nation. In the 2012 presidential election, 67% of Cuban-Americans voted.
This study reflects the party preference of a large group of Cuban-American voters.

I. Study Findings

1. Area covered
South of SW 8
th
Street to SW 24
th
Street (Coral Way) and west of SW 87
th
Avenue to SW 117
th

Avenue.

Precinct voting results for Republican candidate Mitt Romney and
Democrat candidate Barack Obama.
Precinct
Mitt
Romney
Barack
Obama TOTAL
416 1,119 1,167 2,298
444 873 702 1,577
449 668 343 1,015
415 1,037 1,015 2,066
414 1,074 649 1,732
457 515 270 785
402 2,645 1,251 3,923
449 668 343 1,015
461 1,991 1,615 3,619
397 3 12 15
420 1,113 540 1,663
421 1,484 806 2,300
418 769 487 1,261
419 676 268 948
417 1,159 1,074 2,249

15,794 10,542 26,466



3

Results percentage difference between Romney and Obama for the
same precincts
Total Votes Romney % Obama %
26,466 15,794 59.6766 10,542 39.83224

Mitt Romney won 59.67% of the votes vs Barack Obamas 39.83%.


2. Area covered
South of SW 24
th
Street (Coral Way) to SW 40
th
Street (Bird Road) and west of SW 87
th
Avenue
to SW 117
th
Avenue.

Precinct voting results for Romney and Obama.

Precinct
Mitt
Romney
Barack
Obama TOTAL
435 940 669 1,616
436 979 577 1,568
437 951 448 1,406
438 1,227 605 1,840
439 1,901 872 2,788
440 892 415 1311
441 1,026 625 1,659
413 1,513 588 2,112
459 484 218 704
455 360 520 886

10,273 5,537 15,890


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Results percentage difference between Romney and Obama for the
same precincts
Total Votes Romney % Obama %
15,890 10,273 64.6507 5,537 34.84581

Mitt Romney won 64.65% of the votes vs Barack Obamas 34.84%.


3. Area covered
South of SW 40
th
Street (Bird Road) to SW 56
th
Street (Miller) and west of SW 87
th
Avenue to
SW 117
th
Avenue.

Precinct voting results for Romney and Obama.
Precinct
Mitt
Romney
Barack
Obama TOTAL
702 1,679 1,370 3,071
773 1,165 758 1,936
705 941 849 1,809
704 956 695 1,658
706 1,070 753 1,835
707 394 135 533
708 495 374 879
709 469 323 799
710 793 517 1,314
712 967 586 1560
713 1,022 672 1,705
714 1,011 508 1,530
715 1,018 587 1,618
11,980 8,127 20,247


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Results percentage difference between Romney and Obama for the
same precincts
Total Votes Romney % Obama %
20,247 11,980 59.1693 8,127 40.13928

Romney won 59.16% of the votes vs Obamas 40.13%.


II. Conclusion
The voting results demonstrate that Republican candidate Mitt Romney won the geographical
area south of SW 8
th
Street to SW 56
th
Street (Miller) and west of SW 87
th
Avenue to SW 117
th

Avenue with 60.77% of the votes. This is an area with a predominantly Cuban-American
community.

Total results percentage difference between Romney and Obama
Geographical Area Romney Obama
Total
Votes
SW 8th St. to SW
24th St. 15,794 10,542

SW 24th St. to SW
40th St. 10,273 5,537

SW 40th St. to SW
56th St. 11,980 8,127

Total 38,047 24,206 62,253

% 61.11 38.88


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*This study was conducted by Pedro Roig, senior research associate and lecturer at the Institute
for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, University of Miami. Dr. Roig has taught Cuban
history courses at various institutions and was former director of the Office of Cuba
Broadcasting (OCB) Radio & TV Marti. He holds a Masters of Arts degree from University of
Miami and a Juris Doctor Degree from St. Thomas University. He has written several books
including The Death of a Dream: A History of Cuba and Marti: The Cuban Struggle for
Freedom. He is a veteran of the Brigade 2506.