It had been a few minutes since Tim Walz had pulled away in his tour bus from the Mofongo Restaurant on South Fifth Street in Reading, but Alirio Martinez still had goosebumps.
“I’m super emotional right now,” the restaurant’s co-owner said as he rubbed his arms. “It was a really good event for our community. I never imagined that I would have someone that important come into my restaurant.”
Before leaving the restaurant, the Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate had made a beeline for the Martinez family who had gathered in a corner of the establishment hoping to get a glimpse of their special visitor.
Walz shook their hands and thanked them for preparing dozens of bags filled with traditional Dominican and Puerto Rican dishes that someone from his team carried outside to the bus. Then he stretched his arms wide around members of the family and smiled brightly as he posed for a picture.
“This was wonderful,” Martinez said.
For Martinez it was a dream come true to have his small business serve as the space where the Democratic candidate met with local Latino leaders Wednesday as part of a campaign tour through Pennsylvania.
Not that long ago, he was an immigrant working long hours in a kitchen for low pay. But he and his brother, Ramon, decided that wasn’t enough for them.
The brothers, who were both born in the Dominican Republic and came to the U.S. seeking the American dream, decided to open their own restaurant. And while they were doing that, Martinez became an American citizen.
His journey has given Martinez a unique perspective on what it means to be American, on what it means to struggle and strive and ultimately succeed. He said Vice President Kamala Harris has shown she understands those trials, and her views on the issues that are important to him align with his own.
“They want to help the middle class — not the rich people,” he said. “And they have a plan for small-business owners looking to expand and grow. I believe in them.”
Walz, the 60-year-old former congressman, stopped by the restaurant for a quick campaign visit, and was greeted by about 30 members of the Latino community who hold various roles as elected leaders, small-business owners and members of advocacy organizations.
“I’m excited to be here, and I’m excited that last night is done,” he said, referring to Tuesday’s vice presidential debate, a remark that drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd.
Walz’s visit came as a recent poll shows his running mate is losing support with Latino voters.
A national NBC poll found that Harris holds a lead with Latino voters of 54% to 40%. But the 14-point margin is much smaller than Democratic presidential candidates enjoyed in elections in 2012 (39 points), 2016 (50 points) and 2020 (36 points).
Walz provided brief remarks during his visit, speaking about the debate, the economy and the importance of voting.
The debate, he said, was an important part of the campaign. It gave voters a chance to really see what each option is all about.
“I think it’s important for us to know that there are different choices voters can make, but there is only one history,” he said.
Walz expressed disappointment with former President Donald Trump’s running mate. Walz said he is a former teacher so he displayed patience with JD Vance during much of the debate, but when Vance refused to say that Trump had lost the 2020 election that was where he drew the line.
He also said Vance’s rhetoric during the debate didn’t seem in line with his running mate’s views.
“There were a lot of things said last night that didn’t really sound like Donald Trump,” he said. “And, just to be very clear, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will be the ones making the decisions. Kamala Harris is a compassionate decision maker and she offers visionary leadership.”
That leadership, Walz said, is focused on some fundamental truths. He said he and Harris believe people should be able to start businesses like the one he visited Wednesday, that everyone should pay their fair share of taxes, that child care should be affordable and that red tape should not impede economic progress.
Walz encouraged those who gathered to make sure they share that message.
“I’m just really grateful you all took the time to come out,” he said. “I think there is a real possibility this thing is gonna come down to our blue wall states like Pennsylvania. It might come right through this restaurant.
“Can you get out there, can you knock on doors, can you find the people that will motivate others to vote? I’m grateful to you all for being engaged in your community. This is pretty simple: We win when we get people to vote.”
Following his remarks, Walz made his way to each table in the restaurant, shaking hands, exchanging a few words, thanking people for their support and posing for selfies.
Maritza Colon, a member of the Reading Puerto Rican Civic Association, shook hands with Walz and leaned forward to speak with him for a minute or two. She said afterwards that she told him those gathered there are voting with the promise that the Harris-Walz ticket works hard to fulfill the needs of the community.
“He said, ‘Of course,’ and I said, ‘OK, but we are going to hold you accountable. We are going to help you win this election, but four years from now you are going to have to show that you delivered for us,’” she said. “It was so cool.”
Colon said she is looking for leaders who will not only make things better for Latinos, but for the entire community.
“We speak for everyone, and we are just like everyone else,” she said.
Sunilda Tejada, a local business owner, said she’s well aware that Pennsylvania will play a key role in the election.
“And if they are interested in getting the Latino vote then it is important that they be present,” she said. “The Democratic Party may have more Latino supporters (than the Republican Party), but I hope they remember that when they win they need to keep their promises.”
Eddy Peralta, who owns an auto repair shop in Reading, said those that gathered Wednesday are a small group committed to making Reading a better place.
“We will support people who help us do that,” he said.
Peralta said there may be several reasons why Harris may not be doing as well as past Democratic candidates with Latino voters. He said people may not be as informed as they should be on where the candidates stand on critical issues like improving the economy, fixing the broken immigration system or ensuring access to health care.
He said it could also be that some are concerned that past promises have not been fulfilled.
Gabrielina Lopez, the lead organizer in Reading for Make the Road Pennsylvania, pointed out that President Joe Biden ran on implementing immigration reform but didn’t deliver legislation during the first two years of his term when there was a Democratic majority in both chambers of Congress.
“They failed to get anything done,” she said.
Following Walz’s departure, Mayor Eddie Moran addressed the crowd.
“This campaign exemplifies the values of our community,” he said. “My hope is that this visit gave you that push you need to go out and make sure that your family members, your friends and your neighbors understand the importance of this election.”
