Nancy Vitale leads a local Trump campaign volunteer group in Long Beach, with many of her other activities also extending into Los Angeles.
“I have been a Long Beach resident for two years now. I worked on the campaign for John Goya in 2014 and during this time I became very familiar with the 70th District, and said some day I am going to move here. After that election, I became more involved in various non-profit boards but I am basically retired,” she said.
John Goya was the Republican candidate for the 70th State Assembly District in 2014 but was unsuccessful against State Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell.
“I met John Goya and we became friends and later he asked me to be his campaign director. It was the start of my political activities and also work with nonprofits,” she said.
According to BestPlaces.net, Republicans represent approximately 27.2% of the vote in the “strongly liberal” Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metro area, and are 22.4% in the rest of Los Angeles County, less than a quarter of the populace.
“[Before that], I was more involved in business and that was where my focus was… I grew up on the east coast as a Democrat but it was after my tenure as campaign director for John Goya that I switched my party affiliation,” she said.
For many, the words of President Trump are highly divisive and inextricable from the rest of the policies of the Republican Party. But for others, there is more to supporting President Trump than just his actions and policy stances.
When asked why the MAGA movement and President Trump’s candidacy appealed to her she said, “It’s not a bad idea or ideal to aspire to. Certainly there are areas where we can improve as a country.”
“We have had a number of people look in [to the office]. They are not thrilled that it is a Trump office and we get various reactions but nothing major,” she continued. “It’s been a positive experience.”
“Despite the short time, we have had a good number of volunteers participate,” she continued.
“We have to keep up an open communication… the more there is a respect or rapport for our perspective the better. It’s a very divisive environment,” she continued.
“There are pockets of support for Trump here in Long Beach,” she continued.
For more information, the Long Beach Area Republicans can be reached at: longbeachrepublicans.org