Red in a Blue State examines the backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of Massachusetts attendees and others at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The fourth day had the theme "Make America Great Once Again."
Dr. Vanila Singh, delegate from California, and her daughter Rainia
Raina Singh and Dr. Vanila Singh live in the San Francisco Bay area, a heavily blue community. Raina, 18, who will attend Stanford University in the fall to study biophysics, has often had to defend her conservative beliefs to her high school classmates. But, she says, “it’s all good. It allows me to sharpen my arguments.” Vanila Singh, a physician who is board certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine, took a leave from her practice and worked for the administration of former President Donald Trump as chief medical officer in the Department of Health and Human Services. When she returned, she thought they’d at least be curious about her government service, instead “they avoided the topic. Almost as if they were embarrassed."
Gregory Thayer, delegate from Rutland, Vermont, and guest Tammy Lancour
"Vermont is overwhelmingly blue and deep, deep blue. For me, it's just about talking to the people," said Thayer, who's running for lieutenant governor in Vermont. "I don't think people really pay attention to the policies, the legislation going on under our gold dome, and that there's a lot of unintended consequences that come up and hurt people. And I think if it was thought through and discussed and debated and [lawmakers] listened to the people, we the people a little more, some of these bills and some of these initiatives wouldn't take hold."
"I think in America, in this day and age, a lot of people are focused in concentrating on the fact of, that they can't afford certain things," said Lancour. "It's hard for them right now because of what is actually happening, or I should say, not happening. So I feel very strongly that's why we have to re-elect President Donald Trump into office. ... We need to get people, like minded people, on board with us so that we can really make a difference and move forward in this country. There's always going to be people who are your friends and maybe some acquaintances who don't agree with you. You have to hold true to your values and your beliefs and what you believe in."
Julie Baker, delegate from Clemson, South Carolina
"I care very much about election integrity. I care about the fact that, I believe that we, that Trump won the 2020 election. I think that if we weren't on these voting computers, and if we were working with paper ballots, fully and completely, then we would have free and fair elections once again. And that's what I'm that's one of the main things I'm fighting for.
"And I love Israel. I love the Jewish people. I fully I worked in Israel for about four years in cybersecurity, and I fully support Israel's right to exist. I am totally against what Hamas stands for ... they're a terrorist organization, and Israel needs to be free to do what she needs to do to basically take Gaza ... to ensure her security. And I believe that God is going to watch over Israel and protect her, and that it is a biblical mandate to love Jewish people.
"And when you see what's going on right now, as soon as Trump was out of office or, you know, within a couple of years of that, under the Biden administration, who hates Israel, actually, you see what happens. Oct. 7th, and that's all there is to say about that."
Sara Brady, guest from Boise, Idaho
“I make political statement dresses, and this is one of many dresses I have, and it's an appeal to heaven dress. This is the third dress I've worn this week. And actually, it's the rejection of the theory that kings have a divine right to rule over us. So it's an appeal to heaven, our creator, that God rules over us. So, I thought this dress would be fitting to wear. Yesterday, I actually wore the ‘don't tread on me’ dress. Monday, I wore a Trump dress, which actually has an image of Trump with his arm, his arm in the air with the Secret Service around him right after he was shot … It's such an iconic and legendary photo. I thought, that's got to go on a dress, right? So I like to take political messaging statements out of sort of thing, then I mix it with fashion. To me, it's like fireworks. People seem to really enjoy it. I really enjoy it.
"The very first dress that I made was actually a thin blue line dress. Right? It was a law enforcement support flag dress, which is black and white stripes. It's got black and white stars, and it has a blue sash around it. My husband is in law enforcement, and he had a good friend that was severely injured, and they had a gala, a fundraiser for him, and I made that dress and wore it. And it was it was definitely a hit."
Anaji Brooks, concession stand manager at Fiserv Forum, from Detroit, Michigan
"I really feel like, this election and since we're here all for Trump, I feel like he's going to make a lot of changes that are good implements for the statewide cities, and anything around the world itself. Because I would say the voting and elections are a really big thing, and I wish more people would vote to get their opinion out, and have things like this actually prosper in our world. Because I feel like without having some type of delegation of helping society, there's nothing's going to change at all.
"So I am someone that's low income and everything like that. And I feel like having someone in office to be able to delegate that and help our people that are in need, or people that are just less fortunate, can really help our country, or even states around us prosper and be more of a virtue in today's society.
"At the end of day, if you don't have a good heart and keeping our people in mind, there's nothing going to prosper. So either way, I just want to go for someone that actually cares about us. And I do feel like that can be him as well, Donald Trump as well.
"Just get out and vote, y'all. Because I feel like at the end of the day, if you want something to change in the world, you have to make that change yourself as well. And I just hope that if anybody does hear this message, they will at least hear that part, because I'm a big advocate for doing that, because this is my first time being able to vote. So I feel like people need to get out and get out there and do what they got to do to make America great again."