THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) — The Villages, one of the world’s largest retirement communities, has long been known as a conservative stronghold. In the past, left-leaning residents of the central Florida enclave tended to keep their views to themselves, fearing they might be kicked out of their golf group, excluded from the mahjong club, or disinvited from a neighborhood pool party.
But Vice President Kamala Harris’ emergence as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate has given the small, but enthusiastic group a boost of confidence and a push into the light.
“They are beginning to realize that they have a voice and they can use it,” said Diane Foley, president of the Villages Democratic Club, which has seen its membership nearly double since the 2020 election cycle, to around 1,500 people.
Prior to that time, she noted, “Democrats have been inclined to be quiet and to not broadcast their political preferences because we were so overwhelmed by the Republican party.”
Parades of golf carts decorated in support of Harris have rolled through the streets, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff recently paid a visit. Meanwhile, Democrats opting to wear a T-shirt or put up a lawn sign in favor of Harris have had neighbors approach them with relief, saying, “We thought we were the only ones.”
Joe Dubman takes a picture of friends Chris Stanley, wearing an “I have concepts of a plan” T-shirt poking fun at the recent debate performance of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, and Dee Melvin, wearing a shirt showing support for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, as a group of Democratic friends participate in their regular brunch meet-up, in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Still, most say they choose not to talk politics openly, to avoid tension in Wildwood-The Villages, the official name of this census-designated, master-planned metro area of more than 151,000 people.
“You want to get along with your neighbors. They’re nice people. So we just don’t talk about it,” says Foley.
Retired lawyer Howard Underwood, 71, and his wife, Janet, 74, were Republicans for four decades until Donald Trump became the candidate in 2016.
“We’ve made common cause with the Democrats, even though I don’t share a whole lot of Kamala’s ideas on things,” says Underwood, who is now not affiliated with either major party but has volunteered with the Democrats club to support Harris.
Underwood won’t go so far as to put a bumper sticker on his car for fear of blowback, but he acknowledges that the political atmosphere is changing, however slightly.
“Democrats in The Villages has kind of become a thing,” he said with a laugh.
Wearing matching Harris-Walz T-shirts, Glen Smith, 62, and his wife Suzi, 64, play pickleball with other members of The Villages Democratic Club, in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. The Smiths say that friends questioned why they would choose to move to such a conservative enclave. “Somebody has to infiltrate,” joked Suzi. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Most of our best friends are conservative. We know they are red, and they know we are blue, and we all just don’t talk about it.” – Glen Smith
A Trump flag flies from the home of Dave Farraday, a 74-year-old retired utility worker from Pennsylvania, in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. Farraday, who registered to vote for the first time in 2016 to support Donald Trump, will again vote for the former President and Republican presidential nominee, over economic issues, but says he would have preferred different candidates to run. Two homes on his street have lawn signs supporting Harris, but Farraday says political differences don’t get in the way of neighborliness. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
We’re all here for one reason, we’re retired. We’re relaxing… trying to.” – Dave Farraday
An aerial view shows homes in the sprawling retirement community known as The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Allan Weseman, a retired sports car mechanic, feeds his macaws Kayko, left, and Cranky Clifford, as he waits to show them to interested passersby in Lake Sumter Landing Market Square, in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Lobbyist Barbara DeVane attends a meeting of The Villages Democrats Club to encourage the community’s members to vote “yes” on a ballot amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana use for people over 21, at Wildwood Community Center in Wildwood, Fla., Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris await the arrival of second gentleman Doug Emhoff, at a campaign event in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Retired attorney Howard Underwood, and his wife of 50 years, Janet, a retired IRS tax advisor, stand together for a portrait on their street in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. The couple, who moved to The Villages in 2012, were Republicans for four decades before “Trump chased us out of the party.” They are now independents. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
We’ve made common cause with the Democrats even though I don’t share a whole lot of Kamala’s ideas on things… The alternative is unthinkable.” – Howard Underwood
Dennis Foley, vice president of The Villages Democratic Club, works on the club’s newsletter as a television plays CNN coverage of an apparent assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, in The Villages, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Shelly Newman, 73, who uses a walker due to impaired balance, makes canvassing calls to other Villagers to encourage voter turnout, in her bedroom in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. Newman and her husband moved to The Villages in 2013. “When we moved here, we were more concerned about being Democrat than being Jewish,” said Newman. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
When we moved here, we were more concerned about being Democrat than being Jewish,” – Shelly Newman
A retired government worker who preferred not to give her name drives a golf cart decorated with a “Harris for President” sign in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Stickers for the Democratic party adorn the walker of Shelly Newman, 73, as she leaves a meeting of The Villages Democratic Club, at Wildwood Community Center in Wildwood, Fla., Sept. 14, 2024. Newman says people see her stickers and approach her, whispering “You’re a Democrat too?” (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Don’t whisper. Democrats can be loud and proud too.” – Shelly Newman
A sign depicting Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris alongside the three most recent presidents, from left, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, decorates a golf cart windshield during a Harris campaign event in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
There was no effort until Harris came on… It was general depression. No one wanted to get involved.” – Villages Democratic Club president Diane Foley
Independent voter Patricia Coe, 82, speaks with Diane Foley, president of The Villages Democratic Club, as Foley canvasses at the homes of registered Democrats and of independents who might be open to voting for a Democrat, in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
We have gotten death threats about who we are going to vote for,” – Independent voter Patricia Coe
Merle Barefoot, center, who moved to The Villages 31 years ago from Georgia, wears an American flag pin during a meeting of The Villages Democrats Club at Wildwood Community Center in Wildwood, Fla., Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
People attend a standing-room-only meeting of The Villages Democrats Club, which recently moved to a larger space to accommodate the influx of new members supporting Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, at Wildwood Community Center in Wildwood, Fla., Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A man wears a tee shirt reading “Old White Dudes for Harris” as he waits for second gentleman Doug Emhoff to kick off a parade of decorated golf carts in support of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, at a campaign event in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Hundreds of supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris parade in decorated golf carts, following a campaign event in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A movie theatre marque shows films currently playing in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris drives a golf cart with a banner reading “Trump for Prison” and an image of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump behind bars, as he participates in a parade of decorated golf carts following a Harris campaign event with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, in The Villages, Fla., Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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