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San Francisco

Paola Ramos: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America

In-person TicketsOnline-only Tickets

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Democrats have historically relied on the Latino vote, but recent elections have called that loyalty into question. In fact, despite his vociferous anti-immigrant rhetoric and controversial border policies, Trump won a higher percentage of the Latino vote in 2020 than he did in 2016. Now, journalist Paola Ramos pulls back the curtain on these voters, traveling around the country to uncover what motivates them to vote for and support issues that many liberals believer are at odds with their self-interest.

From underdog GOP candidates, January 6th insurrectionists, evangelical pastors and culture war crusaders, Ramos met people aiming to influence this rightward shift. Ramos says how tribalism, traditionalism, and political trauma within the Latino community has been weaponized to radicalize and convert voters who, like many of their white counterparts, are fearful of losing their place in American society.

She met Monica de la Cruz, a Republican congresswoman from the Rio Grande Valley who won on a platform centered on finishing “what Donald Trump started” and pushing the Great Replacement Theory; David Ortiz, a Mexican man who refers to himself as a Spaniard and opposed the removal of a statue of a Spanish conquistador in New Mexico; Luis Cabrera, an evangelical pastor pushing to “Make America Godly Again;” Anthony Aguero, an independent journalist turned border vigilante; and countless other individuals and communities that make up the rising conservative Latino population.

Join us in-person or online to hear from an award-winning journalist who will share her deeply reported exploration of how one of America's most powerful and misunderstood electorates may come to define the future of American politics.

Notes

This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.

If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

Copies of Defectors are available for purchase during checkout (U.S. domestic shipping only).

Photo courtesy the speaker.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Thu, Oct 10 / 6:00 PM PDT

The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers
Image - Paola Ramos

Paola Ramos

Contributor, Telemundo News and MSNBC; Author, Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America; X @paoramos

Moderator TBA

Format

5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7 p.m. program
7 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

Members receive 30–50 percent discounts (not a member? Join)

In-person:
$25 
$53 nonmembers with a book
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (without a book)
Online:
$10 
$28 nonmembers with a book
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (without a book)