The people of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas are fiercely proud of their dual Mexican-American heritage.

“I don’t think the rest of the country knows who we are here in the valley,” says Xavier Villarreal, a breeder. “We are the greatest American people that can exist because we identify as Americans. We are not brown, we are not black, we are not white. We are Americans. All of us.”

But they feel misunderstood by Washington and the media.

“People who analyze South Texas politics don’t understand that people here are from different points of view“Says Congress candidate Rochelle Garza.” We are not a monolith.

Until recently, the country’s two political parties viewed Rio Grande voters as exactly that – a monolith and, historically, a Democratic monolith. This has changed in the last two election cycles.

Today, About: we get to know voters of the Rio Grande valley.

Guests

Cynthia Villarreal, retired teacher and counselor. Currently, she provides guidance and counseling in education.

Xavier Villarreal, breeder. He raises cattle on 525 acres.

Michel rodriguez, editor of The Monitor.

Rogelio Nuñez, co-founder of the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center. Executive Director of Casa de Proyecto Libertad, which provides legal services, education and advocacy to immigrants.

Perla Bazan, substitute teacher. A former Democrat, she changed parties and voted for Trump in 2016. In 2020, her whole family joined her to vote for Trump.

Also featured

Ross barrera, Republican politician in Rio Grande City.

Rochelle Garza, Democratic Congressional candidate for the 34th District of Texas. (@RochelleMGarza)

From the playlist

Texas Tribune: “Donald Trump has made inroads in South Texas this year. These voters explain why.“-” It was a strange sight in Starr County: more than 70 vehicles, adorned with 2020 Trump flags, parading 13 miles along the Texas-Mexico border from Rome to Rio Grande City. “