French Morning continues its pre-election series “Me, French and American voter”. We are going to meet bi-nationals across the country who will help us discover the challenges of the election, and the specificities of the system.
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Democratic state since 2008, can Nevada once again become a republican? Most polls give Joe Biden the winner with a 4 to 9 point lead, but Donald Trump is beating the block, hoping for a last minute turnaround.
Established since 2010 in Las Vegas, pastry chef Michael Gillet became American the same year. “Obtaining citizenship was very important to me, as my family and career are now in this country”, He explains. As he did in 2012 and 2016, he will vote this year but, like many of his American compatriots – and as a good trader – he is careful not to speak about it publicly.
Above all, if the race for the White House monopolizes international intention, the pastry chef considers that the essential lies elsewhere. “We vote for mayors, governors, senators, police, judges… These are the people who represent us the most, and not the president. When you understand this, American political life takes on its full meaning ”, he assures.
Demographic changes
Solid Republican in the past, Nevada largely symbolizes in the eyes of the Democrats this “new America” on which they count. The population is growing very quickly (14% over the past ten years, more than twice the national average) and is increasingly diverse: whites now represent less than the majority (48%). This change is also politically visible, notes Michael Gillet: “people of mthe generation are largely on the same wavelength, when the older ones vote the opposite”. Urban centers – Las Vegas, Henderson or Reno- are turning into democratic bastions, facing aging rural people. A trend accentuated by the massive arrival of Californians in recent years. “We must take into account their arrival, because they could well support the Democratic Party”, Notes Michael Gillet.
The economy at the heart of the election
However, Nevada is far from won in advance for Democrats. The victories of recent years have all been close (27,000 votes ahead only for Hillary Clinton in 2016) and above all, believes Michael Gillet, the Covid-19 crisis and its consequences on the activity of the State will be the elements determinants of this election. He highlights the management of the pandemic by Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak and its direct impact on the economy, with the closure of businesses and casinos which represent an entire part of the state’s economy. The Franco-American thus saw his turnover plummet by 70%, and he had to lay off his four employees. According to the latest figures, Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the country (13.1%) and many “Nevadans”Believe that their governor is responsible. Many petitions are circulating to demand his departure and in the face of Donald Trump’s promises to revive the economy, Michael Gillet feels that many of those who voted Democratic in 2016 could change their minds this year if Donald Trump’s message is has done too much on the Covid, priority must be given to the recovery – is understood.
