Catalina – Latino supporters in Arizona have spread out along the roads of the Sonoran Desert to mobilize the votes in favor of former president Donald Trump (2017-2021) and Vice President Kamala Harrisrespectively, in a state where every convert counts to reach the White House.
That’s the reason why Mexican Betty Rivas and her husband, Salvadoran Jorge Rivashave initiated on their own account a campaign for the former Republican president with the “MAGA Burger”named after Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign, a dish he proudly sells at his restaurant Sammy’s Mexican Grill in Catalina (Arizona), a small town surrounded by cliffs and saguaros.
“People are happy, they come here asking about President Trump’s burger and to tell us that they support us and him, that is the most important thing that we are helping him win this election,” the immigrant, who since 2016 has supported the Republican, whom she knows in person, tells EFE.
In addition to the ‘MAGA Burger’, The Rivas have been calling for small demonstrations in front of their restaurant for five months. every Saturday, with which they encourage drivers to vote in favor of the former president.
The Mexican also composed the “Corrido de la Oreja”, where she narrates the attack suffered by the former president in Pennsylvania last July, and is part of the several songs he has already written for his “beloved little trump,” as he affectionately calls him.
For his part, Jorge Rivas, Betty’s husband, clarifies that the support for the former president “is genuine” and that they do not expect anything in return. “The campaign is not paying us,” emphasizes the immigrant.
The Kamala Riders
But while the Rivas wave flags and make hamburgers for Trump, in Phoenix (Arizona) a group of Latino collectors of “lowrider” cars decided to use their hobby to campaign for the vice president Harris at the “Cruising to the polls” event at a high school in the state capital.
38 days until Election Day means we’re organizing Latinos everywhere! 💃🏽❤️🔥
From a “lowriders” cruising to the polls event in Phoenix, AZ to a Latino Democracy picnic in Holland, MI — Team @ConHarrisWalz is mobilizing Latinos to GOTV across the country! pic.twitter.com/mqqPpCj8Pw
— Michelle Villegas (@michelleavillgs) September 28, 2024
The owners of the vehicles, most of them Mexican Americans, explained to about 100 people who attended the call last Saturday the reasons why they support the vice president.
There are also solo efforts such as that of Kathy Lara, a Benson residenta town on the Arizona border with Mexico, which He was encouraged to put up posters in support of the vice president in a totally Republican neighborhood.
“I’m Surrounded by Trump Signs, But I Decided to Make a Difference and put up my big sign supporting Harris, and although I have earned some harsh looks, I think I have been creating a space for the vice president,” Lara tells EFE.
The support of Latinos was crucial for President Joe Biden to win Arizona in 2020 by just over 11,000 votes, a Democratic victory that had not happened since 1996, when Bill Clinton won.
Arizona is part of the seven key states where the presidential election on November 5 will be defined, so all efforts, no matter how minimal they may seem, could tip the balance for whoever wins the eleven electoral votes that this state provides.
Democrats have also been capturing key positions in Arizona such as the Governor with Katie Hobbs, Attorney General’s Office with Kris Mayesthe Secretary of State with Adrián Fontes, and, surely, will retain the Senate position to replace Kyrsten Sinema, who in 2018 was elected for the Democratic Party, but in 2022 declared herself independent.
Democrat Rubén Gallego leads Republican Kari Lake by more than 9 percentage points for the Senate. Even in a survey by BSG and GS Strategy from September 19 to 25, the candidate had a 13% lead over Lake, a fervent defender of Trump.
Democrats are hopeful that Gallego’s almost certain victory will translate into one for Harrisbut according to the average of polls on the FiveThirtyEight website, Trump leads Harris by just over one percentage point (48.1% to 46.9%).
However, in the latest KTVK poll, the Democrat has surpassed the Republican with 48% for her and 45% for him.
By Ana Milena Varon
Keep reading:
Interview: Trump’s spokesperson for Hispanic media says that the campaign is going for the Puerto Rican vote in key states
Interview: Pedro “Pete” Marín, Georgia’s first Hispanic and Puerto Rican assemblyman, anticipates a long election night in the state
Puerto Rican vote can be decisive in Georgia, says executive director of Latino Victory
Leaders in Pennsylvania assure that Puerto Ricans can determine the race between Harris and Trump
Republican Puerto Rican councilor considers Puerto Rican vote in Pennsylvania crucial
Kamala Harris has revitalized the Puerto Rican vote in Florida, say Puerto Rican leaders
RNHA vice president bets on Democratic Puerto Rican votes in Florida in favor of Trump
