The presidential election and its impact on economic freedom

Four years ago, I was honored to share why I was supporting then-candidate Donald J. Trump on the stage of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. My Dad, a U.S. Army veteran and small business owner, was proudly in attendance. Speaking before those at the convention and on television, I described my family’s history as small business owners.

Those who come from small business families share a similar story of working hard with deep dedication to family and love for America. These small business families and their employees are dealing with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. As we safely reopen our economy, we need leaders who understand the critical economic role of our small businesses. 

At a recent White House press conference to unveil the President’s Hispanic Prosperity Initiative, Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue shared his family’s story and said Americans are “truly blessed” to have the leadership of President Trump.

While some have chosen to boycott Goya, I felt an immediate connection with his statement, and chose to respond by visiting my local grocery store to support Unanue, his family company, and his sentiment about our President.

I have a lot in common with Robert Unanue. He is the grandson of Don Prudencio Unanue and his wife Carolina, immigrants from Spain, who founded Goya Foods’ family-owned company in 1936. I’m the granddaughter of immigrant grandparents who also started their family business in the 1930’s at the corner of 7th Avenue and Buckeye Road in Phoenix. My grandparents ran one of the first “mom and pop” grocery stores in the state and served many of the families who lived in nearby government-subsidized housing. This small, thriving, family-owned business was a cherished establishment in the community for over 60 years.

For both my family, and for Mr. Unanue’s, this success truly embodies the American dream.

As State Treasurer of Arizona, I know that family businesses like these form the backbone of our state and national economy. President Trump understands this vision of America where families work hard and earn their success, free of government regulations or handouts. He understands the importance of protecting taxpayer dollars, fiscal responsibility, bold economic policy, and protecting American business independence and global competitiveness. 

I’m proud of our state and its economic success. Arizona was in a strong economic position before the pandemic, much of which stemmed from the Trump administration’s free-market policies, which boosted economic growth and protected small business. Small businesses in our state make up a sizeable portion of the overall economy, accounting for 99 percent of all businesses and employing about a million workers.

America has always been a land of opportunity, but this must be safeguarded and renewed by each successive generation so that our children and grandchildren can continue to prosper. President Trump has ended burdensome regulations with a pro-growth policy agenda that empowers workers and entrepreneurs alike. This is the foundation we need in the post-pandemic world to help Arizona and the rest of the country return to an economy which is faster-growing and stronger than ever.

Americans have a choice in November between two fundamentally different versions of America in their selection for president. This election, I intend to help voters see what I saw four years ago: Donald Trump’s America First agenda will help secure American prosperity and independence, so that families like mine — and Robert Unanue’s — will continue to find success in a country that prioritizes economic freedom and the opportunity to excel.

Kimberly Yee

Kimberly Yee is the State Treasurer of Arizona. She is the first Asian American elected to a statewide office in Arizona’s history and the first Chinese American Republican woman elected to a major statewide office in United States history. She served as Senate Majority Leader in the Arizona State Senate and became the second woman elected to this position in Arizona’s history. Treasurer Yee has been named one of the nation’s “25 Most Influential Women in State Politics” by Congressional Quarterly’s Roll Call. She was a featured, on-stage speaker to support then-candidate Donald J. Trump during the opening day of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.