NATION : Cuban-Born Republicans Make Bid

MIAMI — Two Cuban-born Republicans today entered the race for the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Claude Pepper, the liberal Democrat whose district came to be dominated by conservative Latinos.

State Sen. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and conservative businessman Carlos Perez announced bids to become the first Cuban-American in Congress. The Miami Herald reported today that Democratic state Sen. Jack Gordon will also run in the special election Aug. 29.

In announcing her candidacy, Ros-Lehtinen pledged to carry on Pepper’s “caring conscience and conservative convictions.” Pepper was a lifelong liberal who had been vilified by Republicans in the ‘50s as “Red Pepper.”

Republicans this year are hoping to win control of the district, whose registration is 54% Democrat, down from 72% a decade ago. Latinos, including 1 million Cuban emigres, are estimated to make up nearly half the district.