Former US Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Advocate for Cuban Democracy, Dies at 70

Former US Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Advocate for Cuban Democracy, Dies at 70

Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Cuban American who dedicated his life to advocating for a free Cuba, passed away at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer, his family announced on Monday. He was a prominent figure in South Florida politics, serving 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a politically influential family.

His brother, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, paid tribute to him on social media, describing him as “a defender of the silenced and oppressed” and as the author of the democracy requirement for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship.

A public memorial mass will be held at a later date, according to the family.

"Lincoln's deep love for the United States and his unwavering commitment to the cause of a free Cuba guided him throughout his life and his 24 years of public service, including 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Mario Diaz-Balart said in his statement.

Diaz-Balart served in the Florida state House from 1987 to 1989, in the state Senate from 1989 to 1993, and represented South Florida in Congress from 1993 to 2011. His tenure in Congress was marked by significant contributions to U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Latin America. He played a pivotal role in codifying the Cuban embargo into law and was instrumental in enacting the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act, which provided immigration protections for Cubans, Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio honored him, saying that the Cuban American community had lost "a trailblazer and tireless freedom fighter." He added, “The life and legacy of Lincoln Díaz-Balart is a tribute to the American Dream and the steadfast defense of human rights and democracy in our region."

The Diaz-Balart family has long been influential in both Miami and Cuba. Their father, Rafael Diaz-Balart, was a key anti-Castro politician who founded the La Rosa Blanca organization. Rafael’s sister was Fidel Castro’s first wife, making Lincoln and Mario nephews of the Cuban dictator.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart's advocacy for Cuban Americans and his opposition to Castro’s regime were instrumental in shifting many Cuban voters from the Democratic to the Republican Party.

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