“When I was a Democrat. the wall meant white supremacy. Now it means safety. This is the first year I have completely changed and become a registered Republican. After the assassination attempt on Trump, I decided to drop all my classes, my fall semester classes, and focus entirely on this campaign because I knew the Republican Party had my home. I am a proud Latino, American and Mexican citizen. The Democratic Party has a problem with young men, especially men of color. After the election they forget us. It does not understand men’s pain, men’s loneliness. It cares about everyone except men. In 2016, I registered to vote to contribute to Bernie Sanders’ campaign as a Democrat. I was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. I was the captain to beat Bernie. When he lost, I voted for Donald Trump. I am doing the same in 2020. I would say I felt pushed out. In this election, there was not even one primary. We did not hear our voice. They chose a candidate for us and told us, ‘If you don’t vote for him, you’re a sexist.’ I felt that there was no place for young Latinos like me.” “We, as old Republicans, welcome them.” “This Mexican American woman gave me a small prayer group pamphlet. Blanca, is the wife of Gerry Navarro, who ran as a Republican in Santa Cruz. And he was just as nice to me as a person. And I saw this grace.” “Young Latino men want representative values, number one.” “I started to see that Republicans are not against immigration. They are against illegal immigration. And the Democratic Party, they keep telling me, ‘You’re racist.’” “Number two, look at the economy. They want to have a house. They want to be able to pay for things.” “I just want to be with a family. How can I do that when the Democratic Party is not focused on the economy and making sure I have the ability to take care of my family? “Democrats see Latinos as, ‘Follow me because I told you to.’ And they will not fall into that anymore. There is a definite bridge that has started and we hope that it will continue with that bridge.”
Source link
