Donald Trump: In Pennsylvania, the president-elect managed to win the vote of Latino men

After voting for the Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential elections USA In 2020, Kenny Ramirez claims that he increased the price of the equipment and supplies he needs for the barbershop he owns. Pennsylvaniathat’s why he chose Donald Trump.

Ramirez, a 35-year-old Dominican-American who lives in the city of Reading with a mostly Hispanic population, symbolizes the large number of latin men who in the last elections leaned towards Trump.

Disillusioned with the Biden administration, Ramirez tells AFP he was frustrated by the lack of aid for small businesses and the government’s inability to stop the wave of undocumented migrants at the country’s southern border.

“I thought there was going to be a change”said Ramírez. “And I didn’t see it”.

Although Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris overall won the Hispanic vote, 54% of Latino men voted for Trump.

This trend was replicated in the county of Berks where Reading is. There, the Republican won decisively thanks to the fact that he obtained almost 6,000 more votes than in the 2020 elections.

Trump was also forceful against Harris at the national level, in Pennsylvania and the other six key states.

“I voted for Trump because I thought he was the best option for the economy.”explains Ramirez while cutting one of his clients’ hair.

‘Olympic medalist’

In Reading, where almost 70% of the population is Hispanic, Joseph Nunez39, is the first Latino to hold the position of local president of the Republican Party.

In a van that doubles as his office, he has traveled thousands of miles to convince Hispanic voters and other groups to join the party.

Nunez says he has spent six years promoting the Republican cause locally, and believes his work helped Trump gain ground among Hispanic voters this year.

“I feel like an Olympic gold medalist right now”, dice. “I feel like someone who gave it their all and finally got a victory”.

That victory was thanks to voters like Bryant Morales who claims he used to be a Democrat until Trump entered politics.

“It showed me that I’m a Republican now.“, the 35-year-old, who voted for Trump in all recent elections and is a customer of Ramirez’s barbershop, tells AFP.

“When you look at the Democrats that are in office, they really didn’t do much”he added.

Morales, also Dominican-American, is a car salesman and believes Trump’s business experience makes him a better manager of the economy.

“It can improve the economy as a business, because it will take on USA like a business”, he assures.

‘It baffles me’

Kevin Boughterpresident of Berks County Democratic Committeeit is not explained why more and more Hispanic men support Trump, given his history of derogatory comments about Latinos and immigrants.

“it baffles me”says Boughter while reviewing the electoral figures in his office. “I don’t understand”.

Boughter acknowledges that she became concerned when she saw that the Harris campaign was not paying enough attention to that area of ​​Pennsylvania as Election Day approached.

Finally Harris visited Reading on the last day of the presidential race. He visited a Puerto Rican restaurant and campaigned door to door to convince some voters.

“I wish it had been more”, laments Boughter.

As Trump prepares to take office again and assembles his cabinet, Morales remains optimistic.

“We bet on Trump, we vote for Trump“, he remarked. “Now we have to let him do his job and we will see what happens”.