Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food & Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Marion school board votes 5-2 to no longer consider ’Mavericks’

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

24-hour COVID-19 vaccine clinic to take place this weekend

'A way to start over again’: Collaboration aims to replant…

Iowa’s public works needs ignored too long, White House reports

House GOP calls for freezing funding for ‘bloated’ regents universities

Virtual EcoFest focuses on tree replenishment for Earth Day

University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State hold mass vaccination clinics…

Home / News / Government & Politics

Bernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West Liberty

Feb. 3, 2020 10:28 pm Updated: Feb. 3, 2020 11:00 pm
Bernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West LibertyBernie Sanders gets big support from Latino caucusgoers in West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY - Sylvia Gutierrez and her boyfriend, Kevin Fernandez, both 22, didn't caucus four years ago. But this year, Fernandez's grandmother, who is not a U.S. citizen, gave them a mission: Be her voice and caucus for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

'I'm here because family members wanted a vote that can't vote,” Gutierrez said. 'He (Fernandez) convinced me, and so did his grandparents. His grandmother said to come and vote for her.”

The couple were among a large contingent of supporters for the Vermont senator at West Liberty's second precinct on Monday night during the Iowa Democratic caucuses.

CAUCUS RESULTS: Democratic caucus results | Republican caucus results

Iowa as a whole may be overwhelmingly more white than the rest of the country, but West Liberty is an exception to the rule. The community's school district is one of only a handful in Iowa with a majority minority population. In 2019, about 55% of public school students were Hispanic, according to the Iowa Department of Education.

Gutierrez works at West Liberty Foods, a meat processing plant that is the largest employer in this Muscatine County town of about 3,700 people, just east of Iowa City on Highway 6. Fernandez works on a hog farm. For both of them, immigration was a central issue, but not the only one, that convinced them to support Sanders.

'I like his health care plan and his immigration plan,” Fernandez said of Sanders, mentioning his dismay with how migrant families at the Mexico border have been treated, particularly children. 'We're a big country, we should be able to help people out.”

Of the 142 people who showed up to this caucus precinct - one of two adjacent rooms in the West Liberty Community Center - Sanders garnered five delegates, followed by four for Pete Buttigieg and three for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Andrew Yang and Amy Klobuchar all were unviable, with smaller groups of people in their corners. Tom Steyer initially had two supporters, but they either left after the first round or joined one of the larger groups.

Sanders had the clear bulk of support from the Latino community in the room, many of them caucusing for the first time.

'We wanted to be informed, to see how it works,” said Jasmin Castillo, 38.

She works at a law office and came with Yolanda Aguilar, 66, who is retired and used to work at West Liberty Foods. Castillo translated from Spanish for Aguilar.

'We're supporting his (Sanders') ideas for free college,” Castillo said. 'And we just don't want Trump to be reelected.”

Juan Machado, 17, decided to caucus when he learned he was eligible, since he will be 18 when the general election is held in November. A junior at West Liberty High School, he said he felt drawn to Sanders' message.

'He's had the same view for decades, and that does something for me. He doesn't change his beliefs depending on what's popular,” he said.

Machado said immigration reform was the most important issue for him, and that he felt it was his duty to caucus.

'I want to able to feel that I'm helping,” he said. 'Helping people is the most important thing to me.”

Juan Meraz, 18, was also caucusing for the first time. A computer science student at the University of Iowa, he said he was undecided between Yang and Sanders for a long time before settling on Sanders. He also likes Sanders' plans for free public college. And at the end of the day, he said he was simply looking for a campaign with maturity.

'To be honest, all the politicians act like children these days,” he said. 'I just need a politician, not a celebrity.”

Comments: (319) 398-8339; alison.gowans@thegazette.com

Juan Machado, 17, of West Liberty sits with fellow supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. Machado, who will be 18 years old for the general election is caucusing for the first. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Precinct captain for the Bernie Sanders campaign Jose Zacarias tries to work out delegates at the precinct one caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. Sanders was awarded four of the seven delegates at the site. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Saoirse Hermann-Wickham, 9, of West Liberty holds a sign in support of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren while dressed as Lady Liberty at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Sara Sedlacek of West Liberty sits and listens to proceedings before deciding who to align with at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Precinct captain for the Andrew Yang campagin Joelle Tessari of Los Angeles tries to appeal to Steve Poulsen of West Liberty, a Biden supporter, after seeing that candidate Biden will not be a viable candidate at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Stickers in support of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren are seen at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Rob Krysh of West Liberty plays with his son, Logan Sedlacek-Krysh, 2, at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
A handful of residents are stopped at the door after arriving just after the 7:00 p.m. cutoff time at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. They were told they were free to stay and observe but would not be able to participate. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Signs, stickers and information about Democratic presidential candidate and entrepreneur Andrew Yang is seen on a chair in the precinct one caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Leonard Vedepo of West Liberty sits with fellow supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Bob Fulwider, a supporter of Pete Buttigieg, tries to win over Steve Poulsen of West Liberty, a Biden supporter, after seeing that Biden will not be a viable candidate at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders sit in their area of the room at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Caucus goers walk into their precinct with just a minute to spare at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Precinct chair Dana Dominguez goes over rules and proceedings before officially starting the caucus alignments at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Precinct captain for the Andrew Yang campagin Joelle Tessari of Los Angeles tries to sway the votes of un-committed caucus-goers at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Sara Sedlacek of West Liberty listens to speakers at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. Sedlacek began the night uncommitted and considering Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former Vice President Joe Biden. She ended up joining her husband supporting Warren. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Logan Selacek-Krysh, 2, sits on his mom's lap as she listens to an explanation of rules before the first alignment begins at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Kids gather at an arts and crafts table to allow their parents and guardians to caucus at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Just two minutes shy of the 7:00 p.m. cutoff time the line to register for caucus precincts one and two is seen at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Precinct captain for the Andrew Yang campagin Joelle Tessari of Los Angeles smiles at caucus-goers after the second alignment begins leaving out her candidate at the precinct two caucus site at the community center in West Liberty on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Daily Report, Small Town, Iowa

Trending

  • Ramadan starts tonight. An eighth-grader explains what it’s like to…

    Grace King

  • Marion school board votes 5-2 to no longer consider ’Mavericks’

    Grace King

  • 24-hour vaccine clinic in Cedar Rapids this weekend open to…

    Michaela Ramm

  • House GOP calls for freezing funding for ‘bloated’ regents universities

    James Q. Lynch

  • Iowa City man faces life in prison for sexually abusing…

    Trish Mehaffey

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Iowa adds 666 virus cases on Thursday

Iowa adds 666 virus cases on Thursday

Gage Miskimen Health Care and Medicine Apr. 8, 2021 4:39 pm

No one hurt in Cedar Rapids house fire

No one hurt in Cedar Rapids house fire

Gazette staff Crime and Courts Apr. 6, 2021 12:15 pm

Iowa state park camping fees increase for the first time…

Iowa state park camping fees increase for the first time…

Erin Jordan Government & Politics Apr. 5, 2021 9:51 pm

Government & Politics

Food pantry to open at Cedar Rapids’ Ladd Library this…

Food pantry to open at Cedar Rapids’ Ladd Library this…

Marissa Payne

News Apr. 12, 2021 7:11 pm

Two members added to Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Two members added to Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Lee Hermiston

Local Government Apr. 12, 2021 3:46 pm

Little progress, but caregivers not giving up on decadelong legislative…

Little progress, but caregivers not giving up on decadelong legislative…

James Q. Lynch

News Apr. 12, 2021 11:58 am

Week in Iowa: Recap of news from around the state…

Week in Iowa: Recap of news from around the state…

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

News Apr. 8, 2021 11:25 pm

News

Virtual EcoFest focuses on tree replenishment for Earth Day

Virtual EcoFest focuses on tree replenishment for Earth Day

Elijah Decious

Community 36m ago

University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State hold mass vaccination clinics…

University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State hold mass vaccination clinics…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed Apr. 12, 2021 11:23 pm

Cedar Rapids clinic to receive federal COVID-19 allocation starting this…

Cedar Rapids clinic to receive federal COVID-19 allocation starting this…

Michaela Ramm

Health Care and Medicine Apr. 12, 2021 5:53 pm

Food pantry to open at Cedar Rapids’ Ladd Library this…

Food pantry to open at Cedar Rapids’ Ladd Library this…

Marissa Payne

News Apr. 12, 2021 7:11 pm

Iowa Caucuses

Iowa caucuses — and attention that comes with them —…

Iowa caucuses — and attention that comes with them —…

Erin Murphy

Opinion Feb. 7, 2021 8:37 pm

New group hopes to help protect Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses

New group hopes to help protect Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses

Erin Murphy

Opinion Aug. 30, 2020 4:39 pm

Iowa caucuses again come under fire

Iowa caucuses again come under fire

Erin Murphy

Government & Politics Aug. 18, 2020 12:23 pm

Iowa Democrats postpone March 21 county conventions due to coronavirus

Iowa Democrats postpone March 21 county conventions due to coronavirus

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics Mar. 13, 2020 2:30 pm

Sports

Kelly Proesch finds her own niche, writes her own success…

Kelly Proesch finds her own niche, writes her own success…

Jeff Linder

Sports Apr. 12, 2021 9:21 pm

Kirkwood ready for national volleyball tournament

Kirkwood ready for national volleyball tournament

K.J. Pilcher

Sports Apr. 12, 2021 7:42 pm

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Ben Visser

Sports Apr. 12, 2021 6:49 pm

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Basketball Apr. 12, 2021 3:56 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company