Florida Democrats are actively challenging Venezuela’s controversial election in an effort to regain support from Hispanic voters after being branded as “socialists” and “communists” by Republicans in recent election cycles.
While Republicans caution that the U.S. could mirror Venezuela if a “California socialist” is elected president, Democrats are drawing comparisons between former President Donald Trump and autocratic Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) noted unsettling similarities between the two men, stating that “Both men have attempted to subvert the will of their people and have resorted to political violence to achieve their questionable objectives.” Democratic Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell emphasized the need to condemn both the “rise of right-wing authoritarianism” and “socialist left-wing dictatorships,” warning that it could impact the United States if not addressed.
With over 210,000 individuals of Venezuelan descent residing in Florida, many sharing experiences with Cuban Americans who have faced left-wing authoritarianism, both communities have shifted towards supporting the Republican party in recent years.
Florida Democrats find themselves in a delicate position where their strong rhetoric contrasts with the Biden administration’s more cautious approach. They previously urged the White House to reimpose oil sanctions on Venezuela sooner, following the administration’s decision to lift them in 2023 in exchange for fairer elections, which Maduro failed to deliver on.
Many were outraged when the Biden administration allowed Cuban officials to visit Miami International Airport, a move that was met with criticism. Additionally, the president eased some of Trump’s sanctions on Cuba, stopping short of the actions taken by former President Barack Obama.
Following Venezuela’s election, Florida Democrats endorsed opposition candidate Edmundo González as the legitimate winner, with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava urging the State Department to impose severe sanctions. Maduro has not provided the voting results demanded by the U.S., and Venezuela’s attorney general, a Maduro ally, is investigating opposition leaders María Corina Machado and González for alleged “incitement to insurrection.”
While Florida Democrats acknowledge the complexities of diplomacy and credit the Biden administration for the Venezuelan election taking place, they caution that mishandling the situation could lead to increased migration and endanger the lives of Venezuelan protesters. The Biden administration is delaying recognition of González as president-elect for now, despite acknowledging his victory, possibly due to ongoing diplomatic efforts with other nations.
Republicans have criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden for what they perceive as capitulating to dictatorships, a situation they had warned against. GOP Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart accused the Biden White House of downplaying the harm caused by dictatorships in the region and seeking ways to appease them.
In a recent interview, Trump remarked that Venezuela was under a dictatorship. However, he took days to initially comment on the election, eventually blaming Harris for the oil sanctions deal. During his presidency, Trump did not fully yield to pressure from fellow Republicans to support the opposition movement more aggressively, but his tough stance resonated with many Hispanic voters in Florida.
Evelyn Pérez-Verdía, founder of We Are Más and an expert in working with Hispanic communities, commended the White House’s efforts on Venezuela policy but urged Harris, as a potential presidential candidate, to denounce the dictatorship as some Republicans, like Rep. María Elvira Salazar of Miami, have done, and to reject authoritarians from any political spectrum.
“They believe she is ‘wishy-washy’ on the issue because they perceive her to be more left-leaning than Bernie Sanders,” Pérez-Verdía stated regarding Hispanic voters in Florida and their perception of Harris based on private WhatsApp discussions. “She needs to address this perception head-on.”
Mia McCarthy contributed to this report. This article was originally featured in Florida Playbook. Subscribe here to receive it directly to your inbox.
