In Arizona the Republicans could lose the majority. A visit to a state where Latino activists take the election campaign personally and Trump-critical journalists are threatened with death.
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere. Pumpkins and heat. In Phoenix, Arizona, it is still very hot just before Halloween, but the 35 degrees do not frighten the activists Claudia Faudoa and Juan Rodriguez. "There are many Latinos living here and we have to make sure that they go to the polls," says Rodriguez. He knocks at a door in the South Mountain district and asks, "Have you already got the ballot?" Do you know you can vote today?
The fact that the man declares that he has filled out the ballot with his children and has given it up already, notes Rodriguez on his clipboard. For each street, the addresses of those houses where the activists are supposed to ring are listed there. The route is the computer, efficiency is the top priority: the helpers should not be involved in discussions or contact people who are not voting or have already voted.
Claudia Faudoa and Juan Rodriguez belong to the "One Arizona" network, which has registered 150,000 new voters, two-thirds are Hispanics. The organization is non-partisan, but all the voters who meet Fauduo and Rodriguez say: "We will certainly cast our votes against Trump." Many Latinos feel demonsized by the Republican. Especially in Arizona, however, they are an important factor because they place 22 percent of the voters. Surveys see Clinton in the state in the southwest of the USA ahead - such a development seemed as unthinkable here as in Utah or Texas three months ago.
For Rodriguez and Fauduo, their commitment is something very personal, since both can not vote on 8 November: The 31-year-old has lost his right to vote because of a criminal offense, the 44-year-old remains undocumented immigrant in the USA. The Mexican traveled to the north 22 years ago where her three sons were born. She says: "America is my home and Trump is a threat to the country. It has poisoned the climate and already built its wall: words of hate."
Excursion to Legoland? Unthinkable for Claudia's family
Fauduo's biography is typical of many migrants: she worked for years as a nanny for white families, then she hired a real estate company, but lost the job again when she came out with a false social insurance number. That Fauduo speaks openly with journalists today has a reason: "I want people to know how we are."
The Supreme Court declared in June that part of Obama's reform was invalid that would protect parents of US citizens from deportation (details here). For the activist, this means that she can not fulfill a sincere wish for her sons: a visit to Legoland. The amusement park is located in San Diego and is therefore too close to the Mexican border, which is constantly under control. Fauduo is most frustrated with the fact that there is no way to legalize her stay in the US: "If it were, Claudia, $ 50,000 and your status is settled!", I would do it right away Donate or raise the money somehow. "
Fear of an arrest is not concrete, Fauduo says: The authorities know where they live because they pay taxes on their income. "The only thing that's absurd is that I do not get a refund. That's forbidden by Arizona's deputies." She worries about the future of her sons, so she fears a US president Trump: "Every voice that a voter I've registered is also my voice."
Years of mobilization work pays off
Claudia tells her story in the "Promise Arizona" non-government organization, which is located in a Methodist church in the center of Phoenix. Behind "Promise Arizona" is Petra Falcon: The 62-year-old is a six-time grandmother and has fought decades for the concerns of the Latinos. Falcon founded their group after Arizona decided in April 2010 the law "SB 1070".
It allows the police to ask all "suspicious people" for missing papers. "The then governor Jan Brewer wanted to make a profile. Together with Sheriff Arpaio, she decided to split our company," says Falcon, pointing to a yellow poster. This is the story of "Adios Arpaio": Activists mobilized in 2012 against the controversial sheriff of Maricopa County, who followed immigrants uncompromisingly. Because of "SB 1070", Arpaio had his people inspected in the Latino neighborhoods in the south of Phoenix: anyone who did not have a driving license was arrested and deported.
Now Arpaio is again fighting for his re-election and is like Brewer (Latinos call the ex-governor only la bruja, the witch) convinced Trump fan. But the resistance is enormous - because activists like Petra Falcon use these enemy images to mobilize.
Not only the Latino activists are full of confidence. The new self-confidence among Arizona's democrats is everywhere: they are proud to live in a battleground state and suddenly become the center of interest. In addition to Chelsea Clinton and Bernie Sanders, Michelle Obama recently also traveled to Arizona to promote Hillary Clinton (more in this SZ reportage).
