Florida is a state historically considered one of the decisive states in the United States elections that has shown increasing importance of the Latino vote. Florida's growing Latino/Hispanic population is becoming a key factor for candidates during elections, and this trend has been highlighted by Clarissa Martinez, vice president of Latino voting initiative UnidosUS, according to a report in Latin Times.

In recent years, the state of Florida has experienced rapid population growth, with an increase of nearly 700,000 residents between 2020 and 2022, bringing the total population to 22.2 million, of which 27.1% are of Hispanic descent, according to the Census Bureau.

This demographic diversification is reflected in changing political trends for Latinos in Florida, including the rise of new figures in local politics, most of them women. The publication mentions Anna Paulina Luna and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who are of Mexican and Ecuadorian descent, respectively, and are actively involved in state politics.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, for example, has a pro-gun control stance and once held a seat in the House of Representatives. She recently announced her candidacy for the Senate, representing a district with a large Latino population historically considered a political battleground. It is noteworthy that Mucarsel-Powell is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Rick Scott and that she has received support from other Latino political leaders in the state.

“Right now, Florida's Latino politicians include Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who has even thrown his name into the 2016 GOP presidential primary, and four Hispanic Cuban-American congressmen/women, Mario Diaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Jimenez, and Mexican-American Anna Paulina Luna”, according to the Latin Times.

Moreover, the political landscape is broader in Florida, where other Latino candidates are challenging Republicans in several races. The growth of communities such as Puerto Ricans and South Americans is influencing a possible dislocation in the state’s political landscape, traditionally dominated by Cuban exile and the Republican Party.