Andres
Andrés, a Mexican immigrant and long-haul trucker in Las Vegas, experiences politics through the rising cost of fuel, food, and housing, and feels the promise of economic stability slipping despite steady work. After voting for Biden in 2020 hoping for relief and competence, he grew frustrated by what he sees as Democratic inaction and shifting priorities, especially on the economy and immigration. While empathetic toward immigrants and proud of his own journey, Andrés believes the system should reward hard work and legal pathways, arguing that disorder ultimately hurts working families like his. He views Trump as flawed but direct, valuing bluntness, tax relief, and a focus on affordability over polished rhetoric, and no longer sees the Republican Party as exclusionary or racialized given the growing number of Latinos who share his concerns. For Andrés, his 2024 vote for Trump was less about ideology and more about results—lower costs, accountability, and leaders who prioritize everyday economic survival.
Main Interview
Andres frames his shift to the Republican Party around local control, legal immigration, and personal responsibility, arguing that everyone should follow the same legal process his family did. He sees civic engagement—like serving in the PTA and focusing on local governance—as the real driver of change. He values lower taxes, business incentives, and Trump’s direct communication style, though he disagrees on specific issues like the Epstein files. While once loosely affiliated with Democrats, he now sees Republicans as better aligned with economic improvement, border enforcement, and cultural clarity, and believes his shift reflects personal maturity and long-term commitment.
Our initial interviews were conducted in participant’s homes, and lasted approximately 3 hours. The follow up interviews were conducted remotely via Zoom, and lasted around 30 minutes. The following are shortened clips from these interviews.
November 2025
Andres talks about the recent elections, and reacts to news that Latinos are abandoning Trump. He also delves into the ongoing government shutdown, which he described as confusing and scary due to the pause in services. He talks about how ultimately only the rich will benefit from lack of social safety nets. Andres describes his feelings about Trump –while he loved his first term in office, he says news such as the White House ballroom make him doubt this second term– and the deployment of the national guard into cities like DC and Chicago, which he describes as against what the Founding Fathers stood for.
December 2025
Andres describes his evolving feelings on Trump and members of the administration, including RFK Jr., whom he admires, and says Trump is still trying to “look out for us.” He also talks about adapting to rising costs, describing high prices as “tough” and the “new normal,” the attacks on Venezuelan boats by Trump– with which he is conflicted about since he does not know who was innocent and who was a “bad guy’–and the end of subsidies for the ACA, which he says will prevent him from going to the doctor.
Meet the Cohort
