I think it comes more naturally in a border state, even though we still have a good share of OTMs, and many native (US) born and raised “Spanish” folks in TX, NM, and CO.
And how are those “many native (US) born and raised “Spanish” folks in TX, NM, and CO” voting? (I think you already answered this, at least for your area :-)
Things take time. Nothing is built or destroyed in a “day”.
There is time to turn things around. But we have to be optimistic, and not have “glass-half-empty” attitudes.
Being an American, and enjoying the freedom that we still - despite the naysayers - enjoy, is very infectious. I’ve seen enough of this in my neighborhood, to have very high hopes.
What we think we see, is never ALL of what is there.
-JT