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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 17 august 2018

Nevada Democrats hope Latinos can propel them to victory

By MICHELLE L. PRICE hers left socialist and com-
LAS VEGAS (AP) — As tem- munist countries - such as
peratures topped 110 de- Cuba and Venezuela - for
grees last week outside a the United States.
Latin American grocery "They've been told that
store in Las Vegas, 19-year- they're Democrats," she
old Diara Hernandez said. "But when you talk to
bounded up to customers, them about the issues, they
greeting them with a smile realize they're actually con-
and a clipboard to ask in servatives."
Spanish if they're registered Still, the president's harsh
to vote — or can vote. rhetoric, policies and ra-
Hernandez, a College of cially-tinged comments re-
Southern Nevada political main a roadblock for some
science student and aspir- Latinos who would other-
ing immigration lawyer, is wise vote Republican.
part of the Democratic Par- Christian Silva, a 41-year-
ty's battalion of volunteers old Las Vegas bakery driver
working to register and and registered Democrat,
engage Latino voters in said he's become more
this year's midterms. Demo- attracted to Republicans
crats hope to re-create the because he thinks the U.S.
big wins the state's Hispanic government needs to take
and immigrant community a stricter approach to so-
are credited with delivering cial programs like welfare.
for the party two years ago. In this Aug. 15, 2018, photo, Maria Nieto, right, and Alma Romo, second from left, register people "I'm thinking about maybe
Backlash against President to vote in Las Vegas. changing my vote," he
Donald Trump's tougher im- Associated Press said. "Republicans are a
migration policies may help little more straight about
Democrats, but the party ins with U.S. Immigration tion." "We're here to prove that that."
is also running into head- and Customs Enforcement Twenty-nine percent of communities of color swing But Silva said despite con-
winds as they try to engage and the uncertain future of people in Nevada are La- them," Lopez said. sidering a vote for GOP
communities facing fear DACA. tino and turning them out Republicans, too, are mak- candidates, he won't sup-
and uncertainty. At a Las Vegas kickoff of a to vote makes a big differ- ing concentrated efforts to port the party's leader.
"When I go to the grocery Democratic Latina organiz- ence in this swing state. reach out to Hispanics. The "Oh no, I'm Latino. I'd never
store, I'm not being asked ing initiative called "¡Mu- In 2014, lagging Hispanic state and national party's vote for Trump," Silva said. "I
about candidates. I'm not jeres Mobilized!," Silva said turnout in the midterm elec- strategic initiatives have in- think a lot of things Trump is
being asked about when she's heard many people tion was cited as one rea- cluded meetings with com- doing is right. But he's a rac-
the election is," said Astrid say they won't vote be- son Republicans won key munity leaders, political ist guy."
Silva, one of 13,000 young cause they don't think it will victories across the state. operative trainings in Span- Erik Baltazar, a 21-year-old
immigrants in Nevada make a difference. Two years later, heavy or- ish and relationships with who moved to Las Vegas a
shielded from deporta- "Our political power is ganizing among Latinos groups like the Latin Cham- few months ago from Mexi-
tion by the Deferred Ac- there, I just think it's buried and immigrant-dominated ber of Commerce and Re- co, said he can appreciate
tion for Childhood Arrivals under a lot of fear, a lot of labor unions was credited publican National Hispanic Trump trying to crack down
program. "I'm being asked frustration and also a lot of with delivering Nevada to Assembly. on illegal immigration, but
what's going to happen misinformation," she later Hillary Clinton, along with Elisa Slider, chair of the as- the president "has the worst
the next day to people's told The Associated Press. helping Democrats keep sembly's Nevada branch, approach ever." Baltazar, a
families." Kate Marshall, the Demo- a U.S. Senate seat, flip two said her organization pro- U.S. citizen born in Phoenix,
Silva, a 30-year-old wom- cratic nominee for lieuten- U.S. House seats and take motes conservativism by cited the Trump administra-
an in Las Vegas who was ant governor whose family control of both state legis- putting an emphasis on is- tion's separation of families
brought to the U.S. without came to the U.S. from Mex- lative houses. sues like family values, re- and children being held in
authorization at age 4, said ico in 1921, said in the Lati- Christina Lopez, a state ligious freedom and fiscal cages at border facilities,
that while she feels ener- no community, Democrats Democratic Party orga- conservativism. saying "I think it's not hu-
gized by the prospects of a "must spend some time nizer, said her goal is to Slider, who is of Cuban heri- man to do that stuff." If he
"blue wave" in November, talking to people about "destroy the narrative" that tage and a cousin of Flori- doesn't hear a message of
many in her community how our government is le- communities of color fail to da Republican Sen. Marco compassion or tolerance,
are grappling with depor- gitimate and worthwhile turn out for midterm elec- Rubio, said she reminds Baltazar said he's not plan-
tations from routine check- and needs your participa- tions. people that families like ning to vote at all.q