Taking a stand against Venezeula's embattled leader Nicolás Maduro might do more than merely fight back socialism, it could also generate some votes for the Republican Party – at least that is the hope for the GOP – according to an NBC News report.
"I think that will be a huge impact," the Republican National Committee's director of Hispanic media Yali Nunez told NBC News. "You're going to see Venezuelans voting for Republicans. You're going to see a lot of people based on this issue solely voting for President Trump."
The Trump administration is doing more than talking about Venezuela, imposing economic sanctions, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó, pulling out diplomats, and hinting at potential military action with "all options are on the table."
"Trump is the first president to follow through on his promise for Venezuela," said Richard Yepez, 50, who added "I sure will" vote for President Donald Trump in 2020.
Yepez's 25-year-old daughter, a Democratic voters, who goes to college in the D.C. area also told NBC News she considering voting for President Trump because "I have strong feelings, being Venezuelan."
In Florida, though, the Venezuelan GOP vote figures to be trumped by the Puerto Rican vote, according to a Republican strategist critical of Trump.
"I think it's probably offset by the fact that Puerto Ricans in Florida — who comprise a vastly larger percentage than the Venezuelans — hate Donald Trump with the fire of a million suns," Rick Wilson said.
Some 2020 Democratic primary candidates have yet to label Maduro a "dictator," though, and their socialist policy pitches can prove costly for Venezuelan-American voters, according to FIU political science professor Eduardo Gamarra.
"Some Venezuelans are not seeing the nuances of the Democratic party," Gamarra told NBC News. "They don't really understand the Democratic party as a huge umbrella.
". . . It's OK for the Democratic party to say Maduro is a dictator. Unfortunately, the Democrats have been caught flat-footed. They haven't been able to shake off the socialist message."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.