AreaRead the video transcript hereunfold
Pedro Viloria, political scientist:
»In the past I have always voted democratically.
I mean, I'm gay, I'm Latino, I'm a minority in many ways.
The Democratic Party always seemed to be the best choice because it promised the right solutions for people like me.
Pedro Viloria and his brother are two of the estimated more than 36 million eligible voters in the United States with Latino roots.
Anyone who wants to move into the White House as president in November needs the votes of Latinos.
Viloria came to the United States from Venezuela with his family in 2003 as an eight-year-old.
He was officially naturalized in 2015.
Only then was he allowed to vote – a real privilege for the now 28-year-old ever since.
Pedro Viloria, political scientist:
»Here I am with my passport, my “I voted” sticker.
And here it is in English and Spanish.
This is really great.
I think it's great that my district offers this level of accessibility.«
Since the Vilorias were all officially naturalized, they have been voting together and discussing politics a lot.
Pedro is the eldest son and studied political science.
It was always clear to him: he wanted to convince his family and friends of the Democrats.
However, in the last presidential election in 2020, there was resistance and ultimately even a dispute.
Pedro Viloria, political scientist:
»The Biden-Trump election has very divided our family.
And we do everything else together.
I told my family: I want nothing more to do with you if you vote for Trump.
And then they voted for Biden because of that threat.”
Viloria's father now regrets not voting for Donald Trump.
We later visit the family at their restaurant just outside of Atlanta.
Will she possibly vote Republican in the November presidential election?
Pedro Viloria working for a Latino nonprofit organization.
At Latino Day at the end of January at and in the Capitol in Atlanta, over 250 Latinos and Latinas want to draw attention to their concerns.
"The lack of affordable housing is another big problem that affects many Latinos - including me."
On this day, Pedro Viloria will guide interested parties through the Capitol and explain how laws are created here.
Pedro Viloria, Latino Community Fund Georgia:
»We actively use the space here.
Because it's also about reminding MPs that we exist.
We are Latinos and we are here and you must not forget us.
And we choose!
So if you don’t listen to us and see what’s important to us, you might lose the election.”
In the last presidential election, Joe Biden only won Georgia by just under 12,000 votes against Donald Trump.
The narrow victory is also attributed to the Latino and Latina votes.
After all, over 385,000 of them were eligible to vote in Georgia four years ago.
And Latinos are becoming more and more numerous: they are currently the second fastest-growing voter group in the United States.
This year they are expected to make up around 15 percent of all voters nationwide.
In the past, the majority voted for the Democratic Party.
But current surveys show: Joe Biden is losing more and more support in the community.
From the perspective of Latinos in Georgia, he should pay more attention to their issues: especially inflation, the economy and immigration.
Only then would he be eligible for election.
But for many Latinos, that is not Joe Biden.
Do the participants at Latino Day already know who they will vote for?
»Yes, of course: Joe Biden. But the motto will be: This is the lesser evil.”
»For the first time I am considering voting for a third party. If there was ever a chance for a strong third candidate to emerge, it's probably this year. Because of all the dissatisfaction with the two candidates who are currently in the lead.
»Trump is causing more harassment in our community. It is the harassment, the division of families. And Biden, on the other hand, is not standing firm. He doesn't change anything. So we feel like we don’t really have any options.”
Because he works for a nonpartisan organization, Pedro Viloria is not allowed to speak openly about his political stance at Latino Day.
But in private: his parents run a Venezuelan restaurant just outside of Atlanta.
It becomes clear here: All that remains of Viloria's original enthusiasm for Joe Biden is disappointment.
Pedro Viloria, Latino:
»I'm embarrassed that I stood up for the party.
I supported this man here and thereby jeopardized my relationship with my family.
He had the chance to show me what I was so obsessed with.
And then he screwed up.
How can I look at my parents now and say we should vote for him again?”
In many ways, the Vilorias are a typical Latino family in Georgia: proud of their heritage and traditions, a strong family bond, small business owners.
They are suffering from the difficult economic situation, says the head of the family.
Franklin Viloria therefore wants to vote for Donald Trump.
Franklin Viloria, restaurateur:
»I have never experienced what is currently happening in my 21 years in this country.
Both in terms of crime and migration.
Yes, there has always been immigration to the United States, but I think the amount of people coming across the border affects the economy of this country.
Especially because of the policy that the current government is pursuing in this regard.
In the past, Pedro Viloria would have wanted to dissuade his father from voting Republican.
But today he is torn and is thinking about not voting at all or giving his vote to one of the almost insignificant small parties.
Or even Trump, like his father – if only in protest.
Pedro Viloria, political scientist:
»Trump will attack our communities, he will.
He attacks immigrants, he attacks the LGBTQ+ community, he attacks anyone who doesn't look what America should look like.
But these attacks bring people onto the streets.”
The only thing that seems clear right now is who Pedro Viloria will not vote for: Joe Biden.
Pedro Viloria, political scientist:
»I'm still waiting to see what happens during the debates and broadcasts and in the election campaign.
But I cannot in good conscience continue to support a president who has done nothing.
I'd rather have a bad president who wakes people up than one who does nothing and lets America ruin itself."