My Family Fled Socialism. Then I Voted for Bernie Sanders.

My family fled socialism. Then I voted for Bernie Sanders.

In 2005, when I was just 11 years old, my mother and I escaped Venezuela under dire circumstances. The government, led by President Hugo Chávez, had begun targeting individuals who challenged its authority. My mother, an investigative journalist, had documented the growing influence of socialist ideology within the country. She exposed how Chávez and his allies were consolidating power through the judiciary, incorporating Cuban operatives into the military, and using oil revenues to fund a vast network of corruption. Her work threatened the regime, leading to her being accused of orchestrating the murder of a corrupt prosecutor. As a result, she faced arrest and was placed under a warrant. To avoid capture, my mother embarked on a perilous journey, hiding in safe houses, traveling in the trunk of a car covered with trash bags, and finally escaping the country by stowing away on a small boat. A trusted family friend helped me reach Miami shortly after, where I reunited with my mother.

Our family had endured significant hardships under the Chávez regime. Police raids targeted our home, our vehicle was shot at, and our family bodyguard, Germán Delgado, was kidnapped and subjected to torture by state security forces. My grandfather, another journalist, was falsely accused of crimes related to his profession and was arrested by Italian authorities at the request of Interpol. Eventually, he joined us in exile. The socialist government also sought to suppress dissent by shutting down the newspapers and magazines my grandfather owned, denying them access to necessary materials such as paper. Over time, many of my relatives were forced to flee, including my grandmother, who spent her final years longing to return to Caracas before passing away.

Despite these experiences, I found myself drawn to leftist ideologies upon arriving in the United States. After moving to Miami, I initially longed for Venezuela and resisted American cultural norms, refusing to salute the national anthem. However, as I grew older, I embraced the idea of becoming an "all-American girl," distancing myself from my Venezuelan heritage. During high school, I identified as a moderate liberal Democrat and supported Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. My perspective shifted dramatically when I enrolled at New York University (NYU) in 2013. There, I encountered a campus culture steeped in progressive ideals. Courses in journalism and political science introduced me to topics such as inequality, LGBTQ rights, and Latina feminist studies. My professors, many of whom were politically active, included figures associated with anti-establishment movements and advocacy for Palestinian causes. One professor even assigned a book edited by Vijay Prashad, a historian known for his support of Chávez and Maduro.

As I studied, I became increasingly aware of the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. When Chávez passed away in 2013, his successor, Nicolás Maduro, continued the socialist agenda, further eroding democratic institutions and deepening economic hardship. By 2014, widespread protests erupted across the country, fueled by frustration and despair. While I recognized that Chávez and Maduro were authoritarian leaders who suppressed civil liberties, I struggled to reconcile this reality with the academic narratives I encountered. This internal conflict led to a profound ideological shift. I began to question the assumptions I had accepted and gradually aligned myself with the political views that resonated with my personal experiences.

This transformation culminated in my decision to support Bernie Sanders during the 2020 presidential election. His platform, emphasizing economic equality and resistance to corporate influence, mirrored the values I had come to embrace. My journey reflects the complex interplay between personal experience and political ideology, illustrating how the legacy of political oppression can shape—and sometimes challenge—the beliefs of those who survive it.