- Title: Hispanics lose faith in Democrats over inflation as elections loom
- Date: 2nd May 2022
- Summary: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 18-19, 2022) (REUTERS) BUSINESS OWNER RICARDO AGUIRRE AT THE DOOR OF FOOD TRUCK AGUIRRE OPENING FOOD TRUCK REFRIGERATOR AGUIRRE POINTING AT THE FOOD TRUCK SIGN INSIDE FOOD TRUCK AGUIRRE WALKING INSIDE THE STORE STORE CART STORE AISLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESS OWNER, RICARDO AGUIRRE, SAYING: "Before it was $10.99, $14.99. $5 increase. We buy this like a box every week. So it's about $120 just in cheese." AGUIRRE GRABBING A BOX OF EGGS HANDS ON SHOPPING CART (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESS OWNER, RICARDO AGUIRRE, SAYING: "$6 for this. Before you could get it for 2.99, double in price." AGUIRRE PUSHING A LOADED CART PRICE SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESS OWNER, RICARDO AGUIRRE, SAYING: "Before it was $20, $37.99. Double in price. This is what we use for the fire, for the truck. So now instead of being 40, we pay 80 for two." CHICKEN BREAST PACK AGUIRRE AT REGISTER CLOSE UP AGUIRRE AT THE REGISTER PRICE OF GROCERIES AND CARD INSERT AGUIRRE PUSHING CART AGUIRRE EXITING STORE AGUIRRE INSIDE HOME (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) BUSINESS OWNER, RICARDO AGUIRRE, SAYING: "I try to accommodate the prices as much as I can but at the same time, I have a business to run and a family to support. I hate to raise the prices but unfortunately, I don't have a way around it." VARIOUS INSIDE KITCHEN BABY (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESS OWNER, RICARDO AGUIRRE SAYING: "Believe me, if the Republican party has something better to offer us, I will vote Republican." GRANDMOTHER FEEDING CHILD (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BUSINESS OWNER, RICARDO AGUIRRE SAYING: "It does have a lot to do with how we see things, both Democrats and Republicans, so when the time comes and things are still the same, I'm probably going to vote different this time." DRONE SHOT OF SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT DRONE SHOTS OF THE SCENE SHOPPING PLAZA SHOPPING PLAZA SIGN INSIDE SHOPPING CART (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOTER, JOSE L. MENDEZ, SAYING: "On the Republican side, that they can control without being racist, I'm willing to change." MAN OPENING CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOTER, JOSE L. MENDEZ SAYING: "I voted for Biden, because of the problem we had with racism in the other party, but when it comes to the economy, I'm not 100 percent. Now I'm thinking if I'm doing it right." MAN PUTTING AWAY GROCERIES (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOTER, JOSE L. MENDEZ SAYING: "It's on my mind, you know, to change if it's necessary to do it so we can have a better life. Whatever is on the table, I'm willing to, I'm willing to do it. You know, I'm not married with any side. Whatever is better for us, the way they manage. And right now, the economy is not a hundred percent in my side so I am willing to change if needed." MAN DONE ARRANGING GROCERIES WOMAN PUTTING GROCERIES IN TRUCK BED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOTER, MARÃA NANCY CISNEROS SAYING: "Whether we are brown, white, Black, we are all suffering from the crisis, but this was already destined to come." WOMAN PUTTING AWAY SHOPPING CART (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOTER, MARÃA NANCY CISNEROS, SAYING: "No. I will never consider it. I will always be a Democrat." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOTER, MARÃA NANCY CISNEROS, SAYING: "Being faithful to a party is like when you are told from a young age that you are Catholic. That is what it is for me to be faithful to a party." WOMAN PUSHING SHOPPING CART
- Embargoed: 16th May 2022 11:03
- Keywords: elections hispanic inflation midterms phoenix
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- City: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics,United States,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001396025042022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ricardo Aguirre stands at the door of one of his two taco trucks.
As he opens the refrigerator door, he laments the soaring cost of tomatoes, onions, meat, and cilantro which have doubled in price in recent months, hammering his Phoenix-based catering business.
Reuters had an inside look at just how much it is costing Ricardo to shop in order to keep Tamales y Tacos Puebla up and running, following him through the aisles of a local Costco in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Before it was $10.99, (now) $14.99. $5 increase. We buy this like a box every week. So, it's about $120 just in cheese,†Aguirre said as he grabbed a bag to add to his cart.
Aguirre continued to shop around. He decided to pass on some items after comparing previous prices. “$6 for this. Before you could get it for $2.99, double in price,†he said after putting back a bag of limes.
A load of groceries quickly piled up.
“Before it was $20, (now) $27.99. Double in price. This is what we use for the fire, for the truck. So now instead of being 40, we pay 80 for two,†Aguirre explained after picking up a box of frying oil.
At checkout, the grand total was $491.76.
Aguirre, 43, a Hispanic voter who backed Democrats in 2020, including President Joe Biden, has a stark warning for the party on the issue of inflation as it struggles to keep control of the U.S. Congress in this November's midterm elections.
"Believe me, if the Republican Party has something better to offer us, I will vote Republican," Aguirre said in an interview on April 19.
Aguirre was one of 35 Hispanic voters in two toss-up midterm races in Arizona and Colorado who told Reuters how soaring inflation is causing them to seriously consider switching their vote to Republicans this year.
A majority - 20 of them - said they usually vote Democratic but were now willing to back Republicans at all levels this November.
Retiree Jose L. Mendez, 66, is one of them. Mendez, who has voted Democratic every year since 1988, had driven 45 minutes to hunt for bargains.
"It's on my mind, you know, to change if it's necessary to do it so we can have a better life. Whatever is on the table, I'm willing to, I'm willing to do it. You know, I'm not married to any side. Whatever is better for us, the way they manage. And right now, the economy is not a hundred percent on my side," he said.
He said this year was the first time the economy, and inflation might switch him to the Republicans.
On the other hand, MarÃa Nancy Cisneros, who has also been impacted by the crisis, said she will stay true to her party.
“I will always be a Democrat,†MarÃa said. “Being faithful to a party is like when you are told from a young age that you are Catholic. That is what it is for me to be faithful to a party."
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