With the garage doors wide open, allowing sunshine and views of Huntington Harbour to pour in, a crowd of about four dozen individuals gathered around the television screens with barbecues, beer, and wine in hand. It wasn’t a baseball game that captivated their attention, but rather the GOP presidential debate. Meanwhile, nearly 30 miles away in Yorba Linda, a similar scene unfolded at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. Over 150 people sat at round tables in the spacious East Room, fixated on two enormous screens adorned with portraits of George Washington and William McKinley. Pete Amundson, a 34-year-old attendee, noted that the Republican Party’s ability to coalesce around a frontrunner while still giving voice to all aspiring politicians is what makes it great.
The event at the Richard Nixon Library included notable figures such as North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. Former President Donald Trump, although not present on stage, remained an important figure for many attendees in both Huntington Beach and Yorba Linda. Trump chose to air a pre-recorded interview on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter during the debate. While some missed his presence, it didn’t dampen the atmosphere too much. A large red Trump 2024 flag served as a backdrop for photo opportunities in Yorba Linda, while a few MAGA hats were worn or waved in Huntington Beach.
Questions directed at the candidates often referenced the former president, his administration, or his legal challenges. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy received the largest applause in both locations for his defense of Trump. Attendees recognized that if Trump had attended the debate, he would have been a target for the other candidates. The remaining nine candidates had much to prove, particularly in the eyes of Annette Eliot, President of the Huntington Harbour Republican Women Federated, who hosted the watch party in Huntington Beach. Although Yolanda Rocha, a resident of Seal Beach, expressed support for Trump despite his legal troubles, she was open to hearing from other candidates such as DeSantis and Scott.
Jesse Suave, a GOP Latino activist and dedicated Trump supporter, donned a shirt that read “I stand with Trump.” He attended the watch party solely to observe the challenges that the former president would face. Suave believed that DeSantis could be Trump’s running mate, despite labeling him a traitor due to a perceived lack of loyalty. Nevertheless, Ramaswamy seemed to be the crowd favorite among the debate participants, consistently drawing cheers and applause. In informal polls conducted at both watch parties, Ramaswamy emerged as the winner, with DeSantis as a close second.
While many attendees unabashedly supported Trump, a few expressed reservations about him becoming the nominee. Art Cordts, a resident of Yorba Linda, believed that Trump was too divisive to defeat President Biden and that the Republican Party needed to appeal to independents and Democrats to secure victory. Cordts threw his support behind DeSantis and Ramaswamy, who recently unveiled his “America first” foreign policy plan at the Nixon Library.
Another attendee, Wendi Vodhanel from Long Beach, expressed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the need for economic improvement and support of American citizens over excessive spending in other countries. The economy was a top concern for many voters, alongside securing the southern border and involving parents in their children’s education. However, the debate failed to address important issues such as affordable housing, gun violence, and mental health, according to Florice Hoffman, Treasurer of the Democratic Party of Orange County. Hoffman criticized the debate for perpetuating tired policies of tax cuts and discrimination against minorities and the LGBTQIA community, while also involving the government in personal reproductive rights.
The watch parties at the Nixon Library and Beale’s Texas BBQ were part of a series of events organized by local Republican groups throughout Orange County on that Wednesday evening. Annette Eliot, draped in an American flag scarf and bedazzled slides, ensured that attendees were well-fed, entertained with quizzes during commercial breaks, and had the opportunity to participate in raffles. Eliot highlighted the importance of unity and camaraderie in winning elections and encouraged people to get involved in volunteering and voting to propel their preferred candidates forward.
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