Full Breakdown
Campaign Stop at CAO Bakery Ignites Boycott in Miami’s Cuban Community
By Drooid · · How we work
Campaign Stop Triggers Boycott at CAO Bakery
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic congressional candidate Eliott Rodriguez visited CAO Bakery, a family-run Cuban bakery in Pinecrest, Florida, on a Friday as part of a routine campaign outreach. The stop was filmed and posted to social media, but it quickly provoked a backlash from many members of the local Cuban exile community, who accused the bakery of endorsing “socialism” by hosting the Democrats. Commenters pledged to stop patronizing the shop, while supporters announced they would buy its pastries in solidarity.
Community Context and Political Stakes
Cuban-American voters in South Florida have long associated “socialism” with the regime of Fidel Castro, and the label remains a potent political weapon. The FL-27 congressional race has tightened, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee placing Rodriguez in its “Red to Blue” program and recent polls indicating a close contest against incumbent Rep. María Elvira Salazar. The community’s recent support for President Donald Trump, who carried Miami-Dade County in the 2024 presidential election, underscores the salience of anti-socialist sentiment in the district.
Official Statements & Responses
She added that the business does not discriminate based on political views but did not anticipate the visit becoming a “press conference.” Rodriguez later said the attack was an attempt to “destroy a small business.”
Criticism & Opposition
Conservative commentator Josue Alvarez and other local critics framed the event as evidence that Rodriguez and Jeffries are aligned with socialist politics, a charge the candidates have repeatedly denied. Salazar’s statements emphasized that the bakery had been turned into a “political prop,” urging voters to view the incident as a sign of the candidates’ disconnect from Cuban-American concerns.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think it’s incredibly sad that in these tough economic times, my opponent is trying to destroy a small business,” — Eliott Rodriguez, Democratic congressional candidate.