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Copyright by Ismael Cuevas 2019 The Thesis Committee for Ismael Cuevas Certifies that this is the approved version of the following Thesis: Latinx Political Empowerment in Chicago during the Trump Era: An analysis of interviews from Latinx elected officials APPROVED BY SUPERVISING COMMITTEE: Néstor P. Rodríguez, Supervisor Laura G. Gutiérrez, Co-Supervisor Latinx Political Empowerment in Chicago during the Trump Era: An analysis of interviews from Latinx elected officials by Ismael Cuevas Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts The University of Texas at Austin December 2019 Dedication I would not be here if it wasn’t for you taking that risk 30 years ago when you decided to cross the U.S-Mexico border and carry me across the desert in your arms. All your dreams, sacrifices, and pains were my inspiration as I completed this thesis. Má, your fortaleza is unmatchable. Absolutely no one will ever take that away from you. You have shined the light on my greyest days in graduate school and reminded me that I deserved to be there. “Mijo, no le tengas miedo” came from your soothing voice as I panicked my last few days in Austin not knowing if I would ever go back to graduate school. While I felt a burden for not completing this project on time, you reminded me multiple times, “tú puedes.” Your work ethic to overcome any obstacle has undoubtedly encouraged me to strive to be the best version of myself, no matter what barrier is in front of me. Thank you má! “¿Ya acabaste la tesis?” was one of the most nerve wracking things you ever asked me. Since I left, I have avoided any conversation related to this thesis. I would tell you, “ya no me preguntes, yo te digo cuando la acabe.” Pá, I have finally finished. You began training me for this back when you taught me the scientific method in third grade. You set the example of persevering in a system that wasn’t meant for us. I will never forget the day we packed my belongings and drove south on I-35, the same highway which would take us from Chicago to Zacatecas. Who would have thought that I would be studying a few blocks away from the artery that would take us all to the motherland? Your never ending support propped me up on those days that I thought I would never be able to finish. I cannot thank you enough. Gracias. Ale and Alberto, you have been each been supportive in more ways than you think. Whether it was Ale telling me, “Dude, just finish it” or Alberto making sure I was fed and comfortable at home. Thank you for letting me borrow your laptop. Writing this thesis from the comfort of my cramped closet is was a pain to say the least. Both of you took many actions over the last few years that convinced me to continue and finish this process. Now it is both of your turn. You have all my support. Thank you. All my tíos, tías, primos, and primas who welcomed me home with loving, open arms; your cariño fed my soul on those weekends when I took the bus from Austin to Zacatecas. Thank you for being part of this adventure with me and for always encouraging me to be a rebel. Mi abuelito Pime and my abuelita Jesusita, you always took care of me when I didn’t take care of myself. Our conversations about our family legacy and our contributions to our patrimonio are forever lasting. Se les agradece todo lo que han hecho por mí. Gracias. Finally, this is dedicated to nuestra gente. Our ancestors have carved a better world for us and it is up to us to continue this legacy of resistencia. This is for all of you who grew up on the south sides of the world. Our ancestors prayed for us to be successful. I was guided by the worldview of lxs zapatistas. They say, tenemos que construir un mundo donde quepan muchos mundos. Let’s build that world. Acknowledgements To Dr. Néstor P. Rodríguez. If it wasn't for you, I would have just quit and never turned this in. Your patience, wisdom, and guidance are truly remarkable. Thank you for helping me accomplish a dream. To Dr. Laura G. Gutiérrez for understanding my situation and dedicating her valuable time in supporting me to get through the graduate school pipeline. Se lo agradezco. To Dr. Emilio Zamora. You took me under your wing during my time at UT and taught the beauty of studying nuestra raza. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to teach. To Natasha S., Alberto G., and Luis G. and everyone at CMAS/MALS. You welcomed me to campus con brazos abiertos during the fall of 2011, and I felt the same way when you welcomed me back in April 2019. You went out of your way to see me succeed. You exemplify the slogan, “What starts at UT-Austin changes the world.” Thank you for providing the support to hundreds of students, including myself, who will be game changers in our society. To Jessica T. You dealt with all my self-doubt but always reminded me that I could accomplish anything with discipline. You were my pillar during these arduous times. I share this success with you. No hay suficiente espacio, ni palabras para agradecerte por todo lo que significaste en esta odisea de la vida. Gracias. For my homies. Francisco you became my brother in Austin. Thank you for taking care of me. Jonathan and Alonzo you were my ride or die then and now. Jose G. and Esther triunfamos como paisas. Jose C. you always kept it real with me. Joe T., we made it bro. For Maribel. You challenged me and taught me so much about life. You adopted me on those days when I really needed a home away from home. I cannot thank you enough. vi To Jessica DH. Our adventures are unforgettable. Your advice on life was crucial for my growth. Thank you for being there for me. We out here! To Nathalia O. I will never forget that day we went to take the GRE. You reminded me why we even began the grad school journey. Tus palabras me ayudaron a volar y terminar esta trayectoria que comenzamos juntos. Gracias por todo. To Alexandra A. Your editing skills are on fire! Thank you for going through the arduous process of editing this thesis and rising up to the occasion. Completing this on time would not have been possible if it wasn’t for your feedback and dedication. To Ben Márquez and Jimmy Casas Klausen. Thank you believing in my academic process. You went above and beyond in supporting me through the graduate school process. To all my mentors at the UW-Madison McNair Scholars program. You ignited that passion I had for contributing to my community via academia. Thank you. To all my homies, you know who you are, for always pushing me to be my best. To all my roomates over the past decade who have always been my family. Thank you. To Susan Sadlowski Garza. You saw potential in me and allowed me to apply all the knowledge I learned at the CMAS/MALS program at UT on a daily basis. Thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity. To all the elected officials interviewed in this study and their staff members who are ensuring that Chicagoans have the best quality of life. Thank you. Abajo y la izquierda. vii Abstract Latinx Political Empowerment in Chicago during the Trump Era: An analysis of interviews from Latinx elected officials Ismael Cuevas, M.A. The University of Texas at Austin, 2019 Supervisor: Néstor P. Rodríguez Co-Supervisor: Laura G. Gutiérrez As the Latinx population grows and Latinxs are gaining political representation at every level of government in Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois there must be an analysis to assess if representation is translating into empowerment. The purpose of the study is to understand Latinx political empowerment during the President Trump era in urban neighborhoods from the perspective of Latinx elected officials from city, county, and state levels in the Chicago metropolitan region. This study focuses on the perspectives of ten elected officials — five women and five men — who belong to the Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial generations and are of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Guatemalan descent. Major themes include political representation, Census 2020, immigration rhetoric and policy, and accessibility to local government. viii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of Study ................................................................................................................ 1 Statement of Problem ......................................................................................................... 2 Research Questions ............................................................................................................ 3 Chapter 2: Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 4 Background ........................................................................................................................ 4 Political Empowerment ...................................................................................................... 4 Chicago Latinx Politics ...................................................................................................... 5 Interview Questions ........................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 3: Research Method........................................................................................................... 9 Data Collection .................................................................................................................