By Efrain Iglesias, Reporter

ROME, Ga.—The longstanding assumption that Latino voters overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates is decreasingly valid in Northwestern Georgia, despite harsh Republican rhetoric on immigration. voters in the region say they are increasingly prioritizing faith and conservative values over ethnic identity in determining their vote.

“Before I am an immigrant, I’m a Christian,” said Pastor Victor Uzcategui of Cornerstone Church of Rome. After enduring what he described as “blood, sweat, tears, and humiliation” throughout his 21-year journey to secure legal status in the U.S., Uzcategui personifies a growing trend among Latinos who are putting faith first in the voting booth.

Recent election data confirms this shift, with former President Donald Trump seeing a marked increase in Latino support in 2024 compared to 2020. In some regions, including parts of Northwest Georgia, Latino support rose by as much as five to 10 percentage points, defying expectations and challenging assumptions about ethnic voting blocs.

“I condemn everything Trump says about Latinos,” Uzcategui said. “However, I’d rather be offended as an immigrant than compromise on biblical values.”

He said he would describe these values as “biblical” and inclusive of  traditional Christian stances on family structure, opposition to abortion, and advocacy for religious freedom. And while Trump’s rhetoric and actions might seem contrary to Christian teachings, Uzcategui said he is more interested in Republican policies regarding social issues and family, viewing these as essential. Alignment with Republican policies on core moral issues outweighs potential conflicts with individual candidates’ behavior, he said.

One political science professor said he is not surprised by Uzcategui’s position, seeing it as evidence of a much broader trend.

“Increasingly, what matters is not your ethnicity or background, but your level of religiosity,” said Dr. Michael Bailey, an associate professor at Berry College. “The more important religion is in your life, whether you’re Islamic, Jewish, or Christian, the stronger the predictor it becomes for conservative political leanings.”

Walking the talk

This shift has reshaped the political landscape in ways that were once unthinkable. After years of seeking legal status through Democratic channels in New York, Uzcategui’s breakthrough came not through a Democratic representative but through the Republican congressional office in Rome, Ga.

“Democrats always say ‘yeah, yeah’ but they never do anything,” Uzcategui said. “After 20-something years, someone here actually looked at my story — a family man, clear record, taxpayer, religious leader helping the Hispanic community.”

Matt Foster, a city commissioner and educator in Cedartown, said political discourse generally omits or otherwise glosses over the many individual stories such as Uzcategui’s, stories that complicate previously reliable assumptions.  

People “want simple narratives about voting blocs instead of understanding the nuanced ways communities make political choices,” Foster said.

As Northwest Georgia’s demographic landscape continues to evolve, these shifting political allegiances suggest a future in which ethnic identity becomes decreasingly predictive of voting patterns.

“The assumption that Latinos will automatically vote Democrat because of immigration rhetoric ignores the complexity of human decision-making,” Bailey said. “People vote based on their deepest held values, not just their ethnic identity.”

For leaders like Uzcategui, this shift represents more than a political realignment; it’s about the freedom to choose values over identity politics.

“In Venezuela, in Colombia, in America, what matters isn’t where you’re from,” he said. “It’s what you believe in.”