Jeffries and Rodriguez Visit Pinecrest Bakery, Drawing Political Backlash
Democratic politicians Hakeem Jeffries and Eliott Rodriguez visited Cao Bakery and Cafe in Pinecrest, Florida, sparking backlash from critics who accused the Cuban American-owned business of supporting socialism, and subsequent political accusations between opposing candidates.
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, October 20, 2026 —
Democratic politicians Hakeem Jeffries and Eliott Rodriguez visited Cao Bakery and Cafe in Pinecrest, Florida, a visit that drew criticism from opponents who accused the Cuban American-owned business of supporting socialism. The controversy was followed by political accusations between opposing candidates, according to the available account.
The summary of the incident does not provide the date of the visit, explain its purpose or describe what took place at the cafe. It also does not identify the critics, the candidates involved in the subsequent accusations, or the specific claims exchanged between them. No direct statements or responses from the bakery, the politicians or the critics were included.
The business is identified as Cuban American-owned, and the criticism centered on allegations of support for socialism. The account does not provide evidence or further detail about those allegations, so they remain claims attributed to critics rather than established facts. It does not say whether the bakery made any political statement or endorsement.
The episode connected a visit to a local business with political dispute, but the available information leaves key elements unclear. It does not describe the scale or duration of the backlash, whether the business experienced any consequences, or what happened after the accusations between candidates. Further details about the visit and the parties’ statements were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by By Churchill Ndonwie, Miami Herald on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
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