Republicans court growing conservative voter bloc: Colombian Americans

[Judi Lynn]

Republicans see a "synergy" between the Latino group's mobilization against Colombia's leftist presidential candidate and November's midterms.

March 5, 2022, 3:30 AM CST / Updated March 6, 2022, 8:46 AM CST
By Carmen Sesin

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Months before the U.S. midterms, a growing group of Florida voters have been mobilizing to vote in elections a continent away — while Republicans see an opportunity to gain voters in November.

Ada Duque, 45, is Colombian American and was recently at the Colombian consulate here registering to vote in her home country's presidential elections in May. Colombian Americans can vote in elections in their home country as long as they register.

Like some two dozen other Colombian Americans NBC News spoke to, Duque said the reason she wanted to cast her ballot was simple. “I don’t want Petro to win,” she said outside the consulate. “He will bring the country down, just like Venezuela.”

Duque was referring to Gustavo Petro, the socialist candidate and former guerrilla leader who is leading in the polls for the May 29 elections. Like many others NBC News spoke to, Duque said her family and friends in Colombia are bracing to flee the country if Petro wins the election.

More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/republicans-court-growing-conservative-voter-bloc-colombian-americans-rcna17175