Voters Want Biden to Continue Advancing Diplomatic Ties With Cuba During His Lame-Duck Session
By Anika Dandekar and Tenneth Fairclough II
Since 1962, the U.S. has imposed a trade embargo on Cuba in response to its government’s communist ideology and former alliance with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Over the years, the embargo has been modified but remains largely in place. Since 1992, the United Nations has passed an annual nonbinding resolution condemning the U.S. embargo, and the adverse economic effects it has had on the Cuban people, including severe food and fuel shortages. While some progressives in the U.S. have argued for improving diplomatic relations with Cuba, the issue remains divisive.
Recent polling from Data for Progress illustrates likely voters' appetite for President Biden to expand diplomatic ties with the Cuban government through several avenues, including lifting commercial travel restrictions and assisting in providing the island with effective internet connectivity.
First, the survey listed a few actions President Biden could take to restore relations with Cuba and asked voters whether they support or oppose each one. Fifty-eight percent of voters support Biden reaching out to the Cuban government to re-establish diplomatic ties, including 65% of Democrats, 61% of Independents, and 50% of Republicans. Other diplomatic actions Biden could further advance during this lame-duck session also receive majority support from voters: 53% support lifting commercial travel restrictions to the island of Cuba, and 52% support granting access to effective internet access in Cuba to help facilitate the free flow of information on the island.
The survey then provided respondents with two statements, one in favor of and one in opposition to renewing diplomatic ties with Cuba, and then asked which one they agreed with more. A majority of voters (52%) believe the U.S. should renew relations with Cuba since their Cold War feud is over and it should be willing to trade with the island to help Cubans meet their urgent need for food and other resources. Sixty-six percent of Democrats and 54% of Independents align with this sentiment, whereas a plurality of Republicans (48%) believe the U.S. should not renew diplomatic ties with the Cuban government because of its links to China and Russia, and the numerous human rights violations its officials are accused of committing.
This survey shows that a majority of voters support the U.S. taking several actions to bolster its relationship with Cuba, including restoring diplomatic relations and lifting commercial travel restrictions. Voters are more split on other potential actions, such as removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, though many respond that they don’t know enough to have an opinion. However, when provided with general statements related to the U.S. renewing diplomatic ties with Cuba, a majority of voters say the U.S. should do so, opening the door for President Biden to amend decades of hostility toward the Cuban government.
Anika Dandekar (@AnikaDandekar) is a senior analyst at Data for Progress.
Tenneth Fairclough II is a senior analyst at Data for Progress.
Survey Methodology
From November 20 to 22, 2024, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,225 U.S. likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography, and recalled presidential vote. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error associated with the sample size is ±3 percentage points. Results for subgroups of the sample are subject to increased margins of error. Partisanship reflected in tabulations is based on self-identified party affiliation, not partisan registration. For more information please visit dataforprogress.org/our-methodology.