Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American ex-congressman from Miami who spent decades in politics, has died at age 70, his family said Monday.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American ex-congressman from Miami who spent decades in politics, has died at age 70, his family said Monday.
The longtime Republican lawmaker who was born in Cuba had been battling cancer.
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WATCH HEREDiaz-Balart was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1986, then served in the Florida Senate from 1989 to 1992.
He served in Congress from 1993 to 2011 in Florida's 21st District. After politics, he practiced law and served as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute.
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His younger brother, Mario Diaz-Balart, a congressman for Florida's 26th District, posted about the death on X.
"It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Defender of the silenced and oppressed, author of the democracy requirement for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship, and the author of the Nicaraguan. Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA). Lincoln’s legacy of achievements will endure for generations, and continues through the work of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) which he co-founded in 2003," the post read. "Lincoln’s profound love for the United States, and his relentless commitment to the cause of a free Cuba, guided him throughout his life and his 24 years in elected public service, including 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives."
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— Mario Díaz-Balart (@MarioDB) March 3, 2025
His other brother, Jose Diaz-Balart, an anchor on MSNBC, paid tribute to him on air on Monday.
"Lincoln was a defender of the silenced and the oppressed, he lived a life of service and did so in the most generous, effective and compassionate way, and for that and for a whole lot more I am eternally grateful to him," Jose Diaz-Balart said.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Cristina, his son Daniel and daughter-in-law Estefania, and two grandsons.
"To speak of Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart is to speak of a titan, a patriot, and a champion for freedom," Congressman Carlos Gimenez said in a post on X. "Lincoln’s leadership has always been an example to follow & he has inspired so many of us with his unwavering fight for a free Cuba. His advice, counsel, passion, & sincere friendship were staples throughout my career in public service and I will miss him tremendously."
While in Washington one of his landmark achievements was drafting laws strengthening the American trade embargo against Cuba, and its dictatorial regime. He was also a fierce advocate for immigrants, helping them secure benefits in America, and through legislation helped many gain legal residency.
NBC6 political analyst Alex Penelas called Diaz-Balart a friend. Penelas was Miami-Dade's mayor when Diaz-Balart was in Congress and said he helped secure big federal dollars for projects at PortMiami and Miami International Airport.
"It really is the end of an era of moderation where people would talk to each other, didn’t matter what party they'd belong to," Penelas said. "He was a principled Republican, right, but he did not follow any individual which is kind of what you have now."
Former Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen called it "a sad day."
"The oppressed people of Cuba had no greater advocate for their freedom than Lincoln. He made it his life’s mission to call for democracy and human rights for his native land," Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement. "Never did a day go by when Lincoln’s voice would not be heard demanding that political prisoners be freed, that a restauration of democratic norms be restored and that the cruel and evil regime on the island be relegated to the dustbin of history. Lincoln’s influence in Congress on framing the debate on US policy toward Cuba centered on the themes of democracy, freedom and human rights cannot be overstated. He was the intellectual giant among us."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said "there was no greater enemy to communism than (Diaz-Balart) was."
Florida mourns the loss of Lincoln Diaz-Balart. He was a leader in the Cuban American community and respected in our state. There was no greater enemy to Communism than he was, and the world is better for his efforts against it. May his memory be a blessing to family and friends.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 3, 2025
A public memorial mass will be held, with details still to come.
