Lincoln Díaz-Balart, a prominent Cuban American figure and a longtime Republican politician who represented South Florida in Congress for nearly 20 years, died on Monday morning from cancer. He was 70.
News of his death was made public by his younger brothers Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., and José Díaz-Balart, an anchor for NBC News and MSNBC.
José closed off his MSNBC show Monday with a tribute to Lincoln, remembering him as “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 a whole lot more, I’m eternally grateful to him,” José said.
Mario first released a statement on behalf of the family announcing Lincoln’s death on Monday morning.
“It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Lincoln Diaz-Balart,” the statement reads. “Lincoln’s legacy of achievements will endure for generations.”
“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,” the statement continues. “We will miss him infinitely.”
Born in Havana in 1954, Lincoln and his family fled Cuba after the 1959 Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. Before Castro, Lincoln’s father, Rafael, served as president of Cuba’s Senate under President Fulgencio Batista. His father, grandfather and uncle had also served in Cuba’s House of Representatives before the revolution, according to history archives of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Once in the U.S., Lincoln eventually became a lawyer and settled in Miami. There, he launched his political career, distinguishing himself for his focus on the immigrant community, his opposition to the Cuban government and his fight to restore democracy there.
Lincoln served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1986 to 1989. He was later elected to the state Senate and served there until 1992.
In 1993, he became a member of Congress, representing South Florida until 2011 and serving in the Foreign Affairs and Rules committees in the House. When he retired from Congress in 2011, his brother Mario ran to replace him.
Lincoln’s legislation included tightening the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which tied the lifting of sanctions to a democratic transition in Cuba, and getting the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act passed, which provided deportation relief to thousands of immigrants who fled violence and poverty in their home countries.
In 2003, Lincoln helped found the GOP-sponsored Congressional Hispanic Conference and its nonprofit arm the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute to advocate for Latino communities and “to build up the next generation of leaders,” Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference said in a statement.
“I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s passing. Lincoln was a talented, principled, and dedicated public servant—he was a trailblazer for the Hispanic community in Congress and was instrumental in the fight to free Cuba,” Gonzales said. “Lincoln’s legacy and years of public service will live on through the many individuals touched by his monumental life of service.”
Lincoln is survived by his wife, Cristina; his son, Daniel, and daughter-in-law, Estefania; his grandsons Lincoln Daniel and Edwin Rafael; and brothers Rafael, José and Mario, and their wives, Elba, Brenda and Tia. Lincoln was preceded in death by his first son, Lincoln Gabriel.
The family will later announce details for a public memorial mass to honor his life.
