As the Republican National Convention came and went in Milwaukee, stories about young Latinos settling into the party ahead of the upcoming elections continue to appear. That of Hilario Deleon, the chair of the Milwaukee County Republican Party, is one of them.
The 23-year-old activist was born and raised on Milwaukee's south side, where he did not grow up politically inclined. He decided against college, and was washing dishes at a bar just before the Covid-19 pandemic. But when lockdown eventually came, he lost his job, which forced him to shift his focus.
"After I lost that job, I said to myself, 'well. I got lots of free time on my hands. Might as well try out politics," he told Slate magazine.
That's when he started volunteering with the local Republican Party, trying to organize a Wisconsin for Trump rally to counter the Democratic National Convention. But both events were canceled.
However, his efforts did catch the Trump campaign's attention. He received a call from a regional field director offering him a job as a field organizer on the spot.
He then joined the Milwaukee Republican party, encouraged by the former county chairman. Soon after, a vice-chair position became vacant when a high-ranking member passed away, and Deleon was asked to fill in the role.
"Maybe they thought my age was a good way to reach young people, but I also just kept showing up. People say, 'Men, you're everywhere,' and I am," he said.
Now, as Deleon serves as the co-chairman of Milwaukee County Party, he continues to express his fervent support of the party and Trump.
"President Trump has a way of bringing in a whole group of people who for a long time took a back seat or were not involved in the political process," he told Slate. "People like me. I'm only 23. I'm part of that new generation that's coming in. I was inspired by him."
He also highlighted the increased support of Hispanic voters to the Republican party. Though a majority still generally favor the Democratic Party, Republicans have made gains with that demographic since the Trump-ification of the party, and new polling showed a jump in voter enthusiasm among Latino Republicans.
"Hispanic voters are concerned about the economy, immigration, and international issues. They don't like seeing their hard-earned tax dollars being sent overseas to fund wars," he said. "The party has really changed in terms of listening more rather than always pushing an agenda. The community too, has to be open and not be so set in its ways. Try to hear all sides and make your decision, but let's be civil about it."
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