Republicans cast more ballots than Democrats in Miami-Dade County as early voting ends

Republican voters cast more ballots than Democrats in Miami-Dade County during the early-voting period that ended Sunday evening, yet another sign that the GOP may claim Florida’s most populous county for the first time in two decades during Tuesday’s midterm elections.

As of Sunday evening, about 180,000 Republicans and 174,000 Democrats had voted either by mail or in person in Miami-Dade, according to the county elections department. Another 112,000 ballots were cast by voters who either have no party affiliation or are registered to minor parties.

Miami-Dade Democrats dominated in mail voting, a trend that tracks with other recent election. Mail ballots will continue to be counted until 7 p.m. on Election Day. But Republican voters showed up in big numbers at early voting centers, with about 33,000 more Republicans than Democrats voting in person.

Voters are deciding on local, state and federal races, choosing a governor, state cabinet officers and members of Congress, among other positions.

All told, about 30.5% of Miami-Dade’s 1.5 million voters had cast a ballot as of Sunday evening.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both hosted last-minute rallies in South Florida to get out the vote for candidates in their parties.

A victory or even a close loss for Republican candidates in majority-Hispanic Miami-Dade County — a key source of votes for statewide Democratic candidates in victorious cycles — would portend likely victories for statewide candidates like Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. In 2018, when DeSantis narrowly won the race for Florida governor, Democrats cast about 73,000 more mail ballots and early votes than Republicans in Miami-Dade County, according to data kept by the Florida Division of Elections.

“We have seen so many Hispanics flock to the Republican Party here in Miami-Dade County,” Florida’s Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez said in a get-out-the-vote rally in Doral last month. “And I’m going to make a prediction right now — and those of you that are recording the news, you can quote me on this: We’re going to win Miami-Dade County come Nov. 8, 2022.”

Other indicators suggest a positive outcome for Republicans on Tuesday. For the first time in Florida’s history, Republicans passed Democrats in voter registration numbers last year, a push led by the Republican Party of Florida and touted by DeSantis and other state leaders.

As of Sunday morning, Republicans had a 331,185 voter advantage over Democrats, according to state figures.