The New-Wave Hispanic

Maria Trent breaks all sorts of conventional wisdom.

Born in Puerto Rico, raised Catholic by a single widowed mother, she is now a Latter Day Saint, a small-business owner and a Republican.

“My mother was from the generation where you didn’t talk about your politics and I actually have no idea how she voted,” said Trent, 48, who is married with a blended family of six children all living in Daytona Beach, Fla. “I just gravitated towards the Republican Party naturally.”

Now the chairwoman for the Volusia County Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Trent’s reasons for voting GOP are clear: “Lower taxes, fairer trade deals, judges, the right to life, national security.”

This year, Hispanic voters like Trent sent a shock wave to Democrats in her home state of Florida as well as in Texas — not just by fully embracing Trump but also downballot Republicans running for office.

“The Democrats look at all Hispanics as one big voting bloc,” she said. “Republicans understand there is a variety of different Hispanic voters, with different needs and experiences in this country from how they got here to what we have done once we have.” While disappointed about Trump’s loss, Trent said the alignment between Hispanics and the GOP will only get stronger.

“There is a real opportunity for Republicans to gain more support in our communities because they care about the things we care about,” she said.

“They understand our aspirations, because they are shared American aspirations.

“It has inspired more of us and a more diverse group of people to run for office. That’s the result that I see from the Trump presidency.”