Some Arizona Latinos Find New Home Within Republican Party

“When I was a Democrat the wall signified white supremacy. Now it signifies security. This is the first year I switched completely and became a registered Republican. After the Trump assassination attempt, I decided to drop all my classes, my fall semester classes, and focus completely for this campaign because I knew that the Republican Party had a home for me. I am a proud Latino, both American and Mexican citizen. The Democratic Party has a problem with young men, specifically men of color. After the elections, they forget us. It does not understand men’s pain, the loneliness in men. It cares about everyone but men. In 2016, I registered to vote to contribute to the Bernie Sanders campaign as a Democrat. I was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. I was a Bernie Victory Captain. When he lost, I did vote for Donald Trump. I did the same thing in 2020. I’d say that I felt pushed out. In this election, there wasn’t even a single primary. We didn’t get our voice heard. They chose a candidate for us and they told us, ‘If you don’t vote for her, you’re a sexist.’ I felt like it had no place for a young Latino like me.” “We, as older Republicans, we welcome them.” “This Mexican American woman gave me a little pamphlet for a prayer group. Blanca, she’s the wife of Gerry Navarro, who ran as a Republican in Santa Cruz. And she just was very nice treating me like a human being. And I saw this kindness.” “The younger Latino males want values that represent them, No. 1.” “I started to realize that Republicans aren’t anti-immigration. They’re anti-illegal immigration. And the Democratic Party, they just kept telling me, ‘You are racist.’” “No. 2, they’re looking at the economy. They want to have a house. They want to be able to afford things.” “I just want to have a family. How can I do that when the Democratic Party is not focusing on the economy and making sure I have the ability to take care of my family?” “The Democrats are seeing Latinos as: You follow me because I’m telling you to. And they’re not going to fall for that anymore. There’s a definite bridge that we have started, and we hope to continue that bridge.”