I got something special for you.
VALENCIA COUNTY, NM is the ultimate bellwether of presidential politics—voted w/ the winner of every election the last 68 years.
Here’s what this place, and its people, are trying to tell us...
✉️Letter to Washington✉️
politico.com/news/magazine/…
VALENCIA COUNTY, NM is the ultimate bellwether of presidential politics—voted w/ the winner of every election the last 68 years.
Here’s what this place, and its people, are trying to tell us...
✉️Letter to Washington✉️
politico.com/news/magazine/…
Funny thing about the streak? Nobody here knew about it.
"I’ve never felt that people around here are real fluid in their political beliefs," said Dale Thule. "Maybe the swings back & forth are on account of people taking turns getting so frustrated that they don’t vote at all.”
"I’ve never felt that people around here are real fluid in their political beliefs," said Dale Thule. "Maybe the swings back & forth are on account of people taking turns getting so frustrated that they don’t vote at all.”
I asked Kenneth Tiger (right), a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat, how he thought Valencia County would vote this fall.
“Whatever happens, it’s not going to be good. I’ve already lost 30 friends in the past four years. It’s going to get worse."
“Whatever happens, it’s not going to be good. I’ve already lost 30 friends in the past four years. It’s going to get worse."
His best friend, Jeffrey Cooper, was more hopeful.
“I don’t think it will get that bad around here. This place is like the ultimate melting pot. People tend to adjust and acclimate and come together.”
That's the history here. But Valencia County, like America, is changing...
“I don’t think it will get that bad around here. This place is like the ultimate melting pot. People tend to adjust and acclimate and come together.”
That's the history here. But Valencia County, like America, is changing...
Dems used to outnumber Rs 2:1. But that gap has disappeared: Of the 48,824 registered voters for 2020, D=18,918, R=16,583, I=9,353.
That's one clue as to trajectory. The other?
"There are a lot of very conservative Democrats here,” said county clerk Peggy Carabajal. “A LOT.”
That's one clue as to trajectory. The other?
"There are a lot of very conservative Democrats here,” said county clerk Peggy Carabajal. “A LOT.”
I met Mary & Bob Courtney, loyal Republicans, while eating lunch in Los Lunas.
“This part of New Mexico was always predominantly Catholic, and most of those Catholics were Democrats,” Mary said. “But that’s changing now.”
“This isn’t the old Democratic Party anymore,” Bob added
“This part of New Mexico was always predominantly Catholic, and most of those Catholics were Democrats,” Mary said. “But that’s changing now.”
“This isn’t the old Democratic Party anymore,” Bob added
David Linares, 28, runs his family bee farm. I met him at a farmer's market selling jars of honey for $5.
He's a conservative Dem. Leaning Biden. But he liked Trump's economy and is scared of taxes going up.
When I asked his biggest concern, he gave an answer I'll never forget:
He's a conservative Dem. Leaning Biden. But he liked Trump's economy and is scared of taxes going up.
When I asked his biggest concern, he gave an answer I'll never forget:
Got a similar response from Karl and Martha Pekarek, an older couple who'd just cast their ballots for Trump, when I asked about their greatest concern.
politico.com/news/magazine/…
politico.com/news/magazine/…
If climate change was one recurring topic, so was race.
Celina Cordova, a moderate Dem who's Black & Hispanic, spoke as a pickup truck of white dudes flying a Trump flag circled the voting station honking and shouting MAGA slogans.
She didn't seem afraid. Just... exasperated.
Celina Cordova, a moderate Dem who's Black & Hispanic, spoke as a pickup truck of white dudes flying a Trump flag circled the voting station honking and shouting MAGA slogans.
She didn't seem afraid. Just... exasperated.
If Trump expands his coalition, it'll be w/ folks like Juan Ordonez (aka "Tiny John," who is 6'6")
He's never voted. But might just turn out Trump, despite family/friends hating POTUS. "I don’t think he’s a racist. I just don’t think he gives a shit what people think about him."
He's never voted. But might just turn out Trump, despite family/friends hating POTUS. "I don’t think he’s a racist. I just don’t think he gives a shit what people think about him."
Sometimes I get to mediate (or just witness) uncomfortable political arguments between spouses. Such was the case with Jamie and Valerie Meza.
"We don’t engage on this stuff at home,” Jamie told me, after Valerie ripped into Trump. “Because it’s either her way or no way at all.”
"We don’t engage on this stuff at home,” Jamie told me, after Valerie ripped into Trump. “Because it’s either her way or no way at all.”
The best conversation I heard -- in Valencia County, and maybe anywhere in America this year -- was between close friends Dafne Lewis and Willie Williamson.
On socialism, taxation, and the tradeoffs a society makes.
Hope you'll read their whole exchange
politico.com/news/magazine/…
On socialism, taxation, and the tradeoffs a society makes.
Hope you'll read their whole exchange
politico.com/news/magazine/…
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