Maria Eugenia Laurencio, a retired anesthesiologist who voted Republican for decades, registered as a Democrat and voted for Joe Biden in 2020 after the party nominated Donald Trump for a second term. Laurencio is a member of Cuban American Women Supporting Democracy, a nonpartisan organization founded in 2023 that advocates for immigration reform, opposes school book bans, supports abortion rights and voting access, and organizes protests and voter outreach. The group now includes about 250 members, many of them Cuban women, with ages ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-80s and occupations that include retired doctors, engineers and former legislators. Cuba Poll data from Florida International University show Cuban-American support for Republican candidates increased from 35 percent in 2016 to 68 percent in 2024, while support for Democratic candidates fell from 31 percent to 23 percent over the same period. Analysts attribute the shift to longstanding alignment with the Republican Party, outreach during naturalization ceremonies under the Cuban Adjustment Act, and messaging about ending communism. Some former Republicans, including Laurencio and her nephew, have voiced concerns about Trump's immigration policies, the January 6 Capitol attack and recent economic issues such as inflation and gas prices. Members have attended vigils outside the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility, assisted families of deported individuals and mailed more than 50,000 postcards urging voters to support Amendment 4, a ballot measure that failed to protect abortion rights in Florida. The organization says its growth reflects a need for community among Cuban-American women and its intention to remain active in upcoming elections.