Faces of the Delegation

Sandy Shanor; alternate delegate (Cheyenne, Wyoming): “As a U.S. history teacher, I grew up during the Cold War, and I’m able to see the results of the pursuit of Marxism. That’s what we see now. In this country, we’ve given people the best quality of life anywhere. And that’s the result of capitalism.”

Michael Hensley; delegate (Knoxville, Tennessee) and student at the University of Tennessee: “What concerns me most? I feel like for young people, it’s pretty simple tenets that they believe in. They invest in their education. They want to be able to get out and get a good job. I feel that the state of country, it’s not the best place.”

Amy Hedke; alternate delegate (Waxahachie, Texas): “I was a homeschooling mom of five for 15 years and actively avoiding partisan politics, until I got sucked in by the Ron Paul campaign. I’m an anarchist working within the Republican Party. They say ‘the consent of the governed.’ But if you don’t consent, you get governed anyway, and they will govern your butt right into jail.”

Jennifer Little; alternate delegate (Bean Station, Tennessee): “When I was little girl, my parents always took us to political rallies, so I grew up thinking that’s what you do—you go to church, go to political rallies. We have a lot of problems in our country, and people are very unhappy—left, right, center—everyone’s unhappy. And [Clinton] represents a lot of what is wrong. [Trump] is not a polished politician, but do I think he can do the job? Yes. These are interesting times.”

Jared Paul Miller; intern (Pennsylvania delegation) and student at Juniata College: “I like [the Republicans’] economic policy. [Younger Republicans] are a bit less focused on the social policies. Maybe we should let the gay marriage thing rest a bit. It’s sort of weird we’re this into it. Let’s focus on the economic issues. Let’s focus on groups the Republicans don’t traditionally aim for, like minority voters and women.”

Darren Ray Waddles; delegate-at-large (Little Rock, Arkansas), student at the University of Arkansas, and state chair of the Arkansas Federation of College Republicans: “In 2010, after the Affordable Care Act was passed, I saw hardship with my family. My grandparents, they got cut off from their insurance and lost their jobs, then my mother, and then my father and my stepfather. Their bosses say they ‘just can’t afford you—your insurance is way too high.’”

Binyamin Rose; Mispacha Jewish Family Weekly, Jerusalem, Israel: “Interest has never been greater in politics than it is today, especially among the Orthodox Jewish community. Everyone’s interested in U.S. policy on Israel, and even more so this year, with Donald Trump, who is an unknown, and Hillary Clinton, who is very well known. An Israeli right winger couldn’t be happier with what they’re hearing from Donald Trump.”

Angelyn Dionysatos; alternate delegate (Atlanta, Georgia), law student, and president of the Atlanta Young Republicans: “I’ve been a Republican since I was five. We are really making history right here in Cleveland, Ohio. We absolutely cannot have a Hillary Clinton presidency. Trump is a really interesting guy. Some people love him, and some people have really unwarm feelings toward him, [but] he brings in new people to the party.”

Dion Starnes; delegate (Denton, Texas): “I’ve been involved in politics since 1991. We are where we are because we’re not doing our jobs as citizens. You don’t have people getting out [to vote]. Government affects every aspect of your life. For me, [this election] comes down to the Supreme Court, and I know what I’m going to get with Hillary.”

Laurie; alternate delegate (Hawaii): “I came [to the Convention] to stand as a Republican. I like their morals, and what they stand for. Hawaii has been a Democratic state for too long, and I believe it just needs change. [Republicans] just stand for what’s right.”