The Best Man for the Job… in Venezuela: Why Samuel Vilchez Santiago is Too Big for Florida
- J & Washington Editorial
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
If you want to understand the tragedy of modern politics, look no further than the resume of Samuel Vilchez Santiago.
By all accounts, Samuel is a star. He is the classic American success story: arriving at age 13, rising to become valedictorian of Colonial High School, earning degrees from Princeton and Oxford, and serving as the Chairman of the Orange County Democrats. He is brilliant, he is driven, and he is a dedicated progressive.
And that is exactly why his potential run for Florida House District 43 is such a profound waste of talent.
The New Reality
We are living in a moment of seismic geopolitical negotiation. The Maduro regime has collapsed. The dictator is facing justice. For the first time in decades, a free, democratic Venezuela is not just a slogan—it is a construction project.
At the same time, the Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, signaling that the "emergency" is over. While many protest this as cruel, there is another way to view it: as a summons.
A Founding Father in Waiting?
Samuel Vilchez Santiago has spent years advocating for his homeland from the safety of the United States. He has wrapped himself in the tricolor flag, championing the cause of the exile community. But an exile community with a free homeland is no longer in exile—it is a diaspora waiting to return.
Venezuela right now doesn't need well-wishes from Orlando. It needs policy wonks. It needs constitutional scholars. It needs young, energetic leaders who understand how to build democratic institutions from the rubble of socialism.
Samuel studied public policy at Oxford. He understands the mechanics of governance better than 99% of the people currently sitting in the Florida Legislature. Why, then, are we content to let him fight for a minority vote in Tallahassee on insurance reform, when he possesses the exact toolkit needed to draft the new Venezuelan Constitution?
The Smallness of Local Politics
To support Samuel’s run for House District 43 is to admit that we lack imagination. It is to say that the height of ambition for a Princeton-educated refugee is to become just another cog in Florida’s partisan machine.
Samuel Vilchez Santiago is a big fish. Florida House District 43 is a very small pond.
If Samuel truly loves Venezuela—as his social media, his advocacy, and his identity suggest—then his duty is clear. The "American Dream" served him well. It gave him safety, education, and a voice. But the "Venezuelan Dream" is calling.
It is time for the boy from Colonial High to go home and become the statesman Caracas deserves.
In Samuel Vilchez Santiago's own words:
For a full breakdown of this topic, listen to the latest episode of The David Washington Show on the J & Washington Network:🎙️ https://youtu.be/cqR3Luih99g
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