Manuel Fernandez is proud to show his Democratic affiliation in a state that is virtually entirely Republican.Image: Watson
At just 19 years old, Manuel Fernandez is one of Florida's youngest and most persistent Democrats. A loyal supporter of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden and chairman of the Miami-Dade College Democrats, he is not afraid to express his beliefs in a state that has largely supported Trump's cause. A portrait.
Marlin Brenner, Kendall (Florida)
Manuel, “Manny,” arranged to meet us at a nearby Starbucks. You can recognize him from a distance. This 19-year-old man has a slender figure and a narrow face that looks a little lost under the light blue peaked cap.
“I think Starbucks is a little more formal than McDonald’s, right?”
We first met three weeks ago at a bar in Kendall, a town south of Miami with a population of 78,000, at an event for Latino Democrats in the area.
This young man is one of the organizers. We were impressed by this law student’s drive and enthusiasm.
Manuel Fernandez proudly displayed his democratic colors.Image: Watson
After our first sip of coffee, we asked him how he was feeling in the days leading up to this historic presidential election. Does he have confidence? Excited, scared? “Super anxious,” Manuel admitted, fidgeting with a ring on his ring finger. The latest polls prove him right. Ten days until the election, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are neck-and-neck. The election seems very close.
when it all started
Like many of his compatriots, Manuel Fernandez's interest in politics was sparked one day in June 2015. A billionaire from New York rode the golden escalator at Trump Tower to announce his candidacy for President of the United States. Manny was only eleven years old at the time. But the image of Donald Trump made a lasting impression on him. “His comments about Latino immigrants were appalling, and he disparaged them as murderers and rapists,” the Florida man admitted, admitting he himself was influenced by the work his parents did in the 1980s. Immigrated from Cuba.
From hat to socks: Manny's political views are hard to ignore.Image: Watson
His mother, a nurse, and his father, a machinist, voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Both men tended to be Democrats, although “politics were never talked about much at home,” Manuel said. “You gave me the freedom to form my own opinions. I saw a lot of kids my age who grew up being indoctrinated by their parents to become Republicans before they even asked themselves that question.”
In 2016, Manuel Fernandez watched with dismay as Donald Trump entered the White House.
“I was very young and only knew roughly what a political party was. But part of me understood the significance of that moment.”
turning point
Three and a half years later, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and Manny’s daily life in full force. He just entered high school. Due to the lockdown, he won't set foot in school for almost six months. It was, as he puts it, a “terrible” time that “completely threw him off track.”
In between Zoom classes, the locked-down teen — even though he’s not yet of voting age — followed the primaries and the first presidential debate with enthusiasm. “I watched the Republican debates, but the candidates were too radical for my taste. I couldn't see myself in their ideas. I, on the other hand, liked the Democrats right away.” Manuel I found a party. and favorite.
“I've been a fan of Joe Biden from the beginning. He's been my favorite from the beginning. His story, his career, the tragedy he overcame. This man is incredible.”
Manuel remains confident that Joe Biden would win the presidency if he ran against Trump in 2016.
Good for him because his favorite candidate won the Democratic primary and then the presidential race against former President Donald Trump on November 3, 2020. However, the joy only lasted a short time. It was the beginning of two anxious months, during which he slept only “three to four hours” a night while anxiously awaiting confirmation of his results.
«I'm completely crazy. I spent all my time watching the news. “
“It was absolutely necessary that the election results be confirmed,” he recalled. “We weren't sure at the time whether that would be the case. Trump is still president and can do more or less what he wants. Fortunately, a handful of upstanding Republicans have done their job and refused to give in to his will.”
Joe Biden's victory in November 2020 does not mean the end of Manuel's worries.Image: Watson
When President Joe Biden was officially declared the winner in Washington on January 6, 2021, Manuel followed the events through his computer and German language classes. The laptop battery is failing. Soon after, his cell phone showed up. That's when rioters began storming the Capitol. Manuel still shudders when he thinks back to that memory.
“I ran home completely helpless. When my mother saw me, she was ecstatic. She kept an eye on what was going on but couldn't get through to me,” he recalled.
«The situation is very serious. It was not at all clear at that time whether the country would descend into civil war. “
The result is known. The election results were finally confirmed and Joe Biden was elected as the 46th President. These events marked the beginning of Manuel Fernandez's political involvement.
a budding politician
The 19-year-old has since studied at Miami Dade College and served as president of the Democratic Higher Education Caucus. “I'm the 'political guy' in the room,” he admits. “I'm interested in current events and international politics, from the war in Ukraine to the recent Venezuelan election. I annoy everyone with my politics.”
Asked if he sometimes feels a little lonely as a Democrat in an increasingly Republican state, he shrugged.
«I will keep talking about it. I have no problem arguing with people or turning them against me. “
As well as starting to study law a year ago, he is also involved in local politics and recently became a member of the city's local council. “The first time I spoke at a conference, people looked at me and asked, 'Who is this boy?'”
Manuel Fernandez attends a swearing-in ceremony before entering the Kendall Ward 11/16 Community Board.Image: Watson
«The key to gaining respect is to admit that you don’t know everything. For example, I still have a lot to learn about fundraising. You have to stay humble,” said the scholar, whose commitment to the party led to him being sent as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August for the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Manuel was one of the delegates who attended the nomination of Kamala Harris in August.Image: Instagram, photo by Manuel Fernandez
This time, he got to see all his icons, from Barack Obama to Joe Biden to Kamala Harris. He was still excited and showed us photos of the event on his iPhone. “When I saw Joe Biden speak, yes, I cried,” he admitted. “His speech marked the end of something. Yet when I heard Kamala Harris' voice, I didn't shed a tear. There was so much joy, so much hope.”
The first step towards politics. Before his ambition might take him very far. Manny's dark eyes showed a determined look. His voice was calm and his charisma was palpable.
“One day I will be president of the United States.”
“I really want to have an impact on people's lives,” the aspiring politician said before introducing his plans, with a confidence and wit that was surprising for his age. You have to believe him when he talks about “expanding infrastructure” like the bus network, healthcare for Americans, or climate protection solutions – “that's going to work through nuclear power,” he said.
Everything is in its time. Manuel is still 16 years away from winning the White House. After completing his studies, his initial goal was to be elected to Congress or the Senate.
Manuel's car really made an impact. He claims he was never harassed.Image: Watson
As we walked him to his car—which, of course, was also decked out in the colors of Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz—the young man told us about his Plans for election night. “I'm organizing an evening with other Democrats at the Kendall Grill and Bar, the food is delicious, the atmosphere is great, perfect for waiting for the results. And then if Kamala loses…”
Yeah, what if Kamala loses? “I'd rather not think about it,” he said. “I refuse to think about it.”
“But no matter what happens, I will continue to fight for our democracy, our Constitution.”
With this solemn promise, he set out to join the ranks of democratic volunteers. Knocking on doors, driving around town, painting posters. There is a lot to do in the next ten days. Manuel Fernandez's efforts have only just begun.
