WOODSIDE — More than 50 supporters gathered at an old-timey saloon Wednesday afternoon, hoping to use their signs and flags to show support for Republican vice-presidential candidate J,D. Vance as he stopped briefly in a deep-blue state for a Silicon Valley fundraiser.
That the Ohio senator hadn’t been spotted by 5 p.m. didn’t dim the group’s enthusiasm — with some planning a trip to another location, hoping they might spot him.
Their endorsement for the Nov. 5 election, for which ballots are being already being received by mail, was clear.
“When (former president Donald J.) Trump came to office, we didn’t have any war. We had prosperity. We didn’t have any problems (with) security — the wall was closed and we were safe and everybody was happy,” said Redwood City resident Elizabeth Starks, the president of the San Francisco Peninsula Republican Assembly. “The Democratic Party is the party that ruins everything.”
Outside the Pioneer Saloon, a table selling Trump merchandise had flags draped down the front and T-shirts with various slogans on display — “Trump girl,” “Fight for America” and “Felon Hillbilly.”
At Vance’s fundraiser — the host was not clear Wednesday afternoon — the tone was likely more polished, with admission going for up to $50,000 and the cheapest ticket costing $3,000.
Attendees at the saloon wore “Make America Great Again” hats and clothes in shades of red, white and blue, many adorned with images of Trump.. Even the dogs in attendance sported Trump Vance 2024 bandanas.
A little girl, clutching her mom’s hand, proclaimed “I want to get a hat!”
From one car, a person yelled “Kamala!”, seemingly in support of Democratic presidential nominee Harris, as they passed by. From another, a child stuck his head out a window, deploying a thumbs-down and yelling “Boo!” Other cars honked in shows of support for the rally.
“I want Vance to know that he is loved here, and we want to support him,” said Rosa Ruiz, a resident of Hillsborough. “We want him to see that there’s a lot of support for him here — more than he knows.”
Ruiz, who wore red, white and blue from head to toe, complete with American flag-printed shoes and cowboy hat, added that she was very patriotic and “would bear arms for this stuff.”
“J.D. Vance — did you see him in the in the debate? Oh, he was actually perfect. He is unbelievable,” she said. “One day he’s going to be the President of the United States. That’s how strongly we feel about him.”
Starks, who is originally from South America, said that she supports Trump’s policies against illegal immigration.
“You have to learn the Constitution. You have to adapt to the American system. You have to accept the people here, and you have to help others,” she said about immigrating legally. “And this is what I did.”
Lisa Karna said she has always lived in California and was a Democrat until the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“While I don’t necessarily think that any one party is the panacea, I feel like we have a better chance of maintaining our individual liberties with the Republicans now than we do with the Democrats,” she said. “I think that Trump has changed over the years. I think that he is aligning himself with good people and well-intentioned people, and I am for that.”
Supporters of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance rally outside the Pioneer Saloon in Woodside in anticipation of Vance’s arrival for a campaign fundraiser. (Caelyn Pender/Bay Area News Group Staff)
Several people cited claims about transgender policies in schools that they said had influenced their support for the Republican ticket.
“Giving people freedoms is fine, but pushing it in schools is not,” Karna said.
“We have to protect our children,” Starks said.
Two counterprotestors arrived during the event, standing up the street from the rally and holding anti-Trump signs.
“I viscerally am disgusted by Trump,” said Ryan K., a counterprotestor from Palo Alto who declined to give his last name. “I don’t even care what his policies are. Everything he’s done over the past several decades is vehemently abominable to me, and I can’t imagine him as president. I don’t care what party he’s going for.”
“Vance is a disgusting, money-grubbing tech bro,” he added. “I’m not really for that either.”
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Vance previously attended a fundraiser in East Palo Alto in July, while Trump made a visit to San Francisco in June. Harris has also fundaised in the Bay Area, with stops in San Francisco in August and earlier this month.
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“Trump – he has something that I like,” said Steve Nguyen, who lives in San Leandro. “Not 100%, but he has more about the same opinion, the same thinking, the same belief.”
Nguyen said his primary concerns include illegal immigration, the economy and self-reliance for people.
“First and foremost, always economy because it benefits all people,” Nguyen said. “No matter where you’re from, you’re rich, poor, middle class. No matter what color you are, you have to bring food to your table for your family. So I believe Trump, he will be able to deliver it.”