With the Florida primaries now concluded, the political stance on Cuba is part of the positioning of the two candidates who will face off on November 3 for the governorship of the state: Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly.
While both candidates to replace Governor Ron DeSantis support a democratic Cuba and condemn the communist regime, they approach this from different political strategies.
The dispute takes on special significance in a state where the Cuban-American electorate holds considerable political weight and in which Republicans have managed to consolidate an advantage over Democrats.
Jolly, a former Republican turned Democrat, is precisely trying to show that his party can compete for that vote without abandoning a critical stance towards Havana.
Donalds: regime change and maximum pressure
Donalds has been the more explicit of the two. In February, he stated that the Cuban government is a "brutal and murderous communist dictatorship" and declared: "The regime must go".
In April, he went further and declared that he supports a "total regime change". When asked about a possible military action in Cuba, he responded that he would not interfere with the decisions of President Donald Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
His proposal for the future of the island is also clear: a free Cuba, with respect for private property, freedom, the return of exiles, and a close economic relationship with Florida. Donalds has stated that a free Cuba could become a "great partner for Florida".
His position aligns with the national policy of increasing pressure on Havana and with the Cuban-American Republican sector that believes the priority is no longer to reform the Cuban system, but to promote its disappearance.
Jolly: a democrat who does not want to cede Cuba to the Republicans
Jolly adopts a less confrontational tone, but has also not chosen a policy of rapprochement with the regime.
The Democratic candidate supported the federal charges against Raúl Castro for the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes and described the event as one that deserved justice.
He has also expressed his desire for Trump and Rubio to succeed in achieving "a free Cuba" and highlighted Rubio's knowledge of the relationship between the United States and the island.
The difference with Donalds mainly lies in the methods. Jolly advocates for political change and a free Cuba, but he has not built his campaign around the concept of a total regime change nor has he put forth a military intervention proposal comparable to those of other Democratic candidates from Florida.
His challenge is to demonstrate that a Democrat can be critical of Castroism and supportive of a democratic transition without adopting the entire Republican agenda.
DeSantis leaves a policy on Cuba transformed into law
The outgoing governor, Ron DeSantis, has been one of the main figures responsible for institutionalizing that hardline stance in Florida.
In May, he signed HB 905, a law that tightens state restrictions related to countries deemed a concern, including Cuba, and establishes new limitations and sanctions for certain relationships and operations.
The legislation also leaves open the possibility of temporarily suspending some restrictions on Cuba if the federal government changes its diplomatic status. In other words, DeSantis combined pressure against the current regime with the prospect of a different relationship with a future democratic Cuba.
Therefore, Donalds would not start from scratch if he arrives in Tallahassee. He would inherit a state policy already defined by confrontation with Havana, although his political ties with Trump and Rubio could lead to greater coordination with Washington.
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