In a collaboration between the Alexandria Brief and the Liberally Social Podcast, Cesar Madison Tapia sat down for an interview ahead of Saturday’s Democratic firehouse primary.
Why he’s running
Tapia, 26, said he’s running to give a voice to young people who feel left out of politics.
“A lot of people count us out,” he said. “I hate that we use the word affordability like it’s a buzzword. The sad reality to us is that we tend to look around and we don’t see a single voice that looks like mine or that is in the projection of being somebody who is youth and is going to inherit the problems of this city.”
He said young people are interested in civic life but often get dismissed. “Young people are interested. It’s just that a lot of times we’re viewed as, oh, they don’t care. Like, no, we genuinely do care.”
Three policy priorities
Tapia outlined three main issues:
Partnering with ACPS: As a teacher, Tapia said he has “bright insight” into what students and teachers go through. “Being able to be in the classrooms and being able to see what students go through and what teachers go through, I feel like I have a bright insight to bring to the table.”
Affordability: “When we talk affordability, it means different for people,” he said. “It means different for me that I’m a renter. It means different for somebody who’s a small business owner. It means different for seniors.”
Transparency: Tapia said much of what he’s learned during the campaign was news to him after living in Alexandria for three and a half years. “A lot of the stuff that I’m learning right now in this campaign is the first time hearing it,” he said. “That shouldn’t be a surprise to me.”
On immigration
Tapia spoke at length about immigration, drawing on his own experience as a former undocumented immigrant who came to the U.S. at age 4.
“I used to be an undocumented immigrant myself. I was brought here when I was four years old by my mother and my two older sisters,” he said. “I remember being a kid, being scared of life, of losing my mom, my older sisters.”
He said about 40 of his 80 students are undocumented, and he’s had students cry on his lap after family members were detained. “To me, this is personal. This isn’t politics.”
Tapia said he’s been the only candidate to call for abolishing ICE. “We are Democrats. If we are going to be about ICE out, everybody sitting in our table has to be about that. If not, we’re just being performative.”
What separates him
Asked what makes him different from the other candidates, Tapia said: “I’m Donald Trump’s worst nightmare. Somebody who came here undocumented and is an Army veteran and now a teacher.”
He emphasized his lived experience. “What makes me different is that I’m an everyday Joe, an everyday American. I live paycheck to paycheck. I’m seeing it firsthand what is going on. I’m a renter.”
Tapia listed his blue-collar work history — FedEx driver, Lowe’s and Home Depot, construction, Army — and said his students call him “a Lego man” because of all the jobs he’s held.
“I’m still living the everyday issues of living paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “We have great candidates on the board. I’m glad to be even included in this.”
Leadership style
Tapia described himself as “very people-oriented” and said he needs “everybody’s input” before making decisions.
“The way I would like to govern is have everybody sit down,” he said. “Get enough representation in the table, whether it be tenants, landlords, developers, everybody there, and see where our minds are at and where we align and where we differentiate before we make an actual decision.”
On endorsements
Tapia said he has intentionally declined formal endorsements, even turning away people who offered them.
“There is a reason I am not endorsed. I’ve had people come try to endorse me. I’ve rejected them,” he said. “I told them this is a people’s driven campaign.”
He said the best way to support him is “by voting for me and by telling your folks around. I’m not flashy like that.”
Getting to know Cesar
In a rapid-fire personal segment, Tapia said his favorite pizza is Frank Pepe on Duke Street, his favorite mode of transportation is the bus (”I love that we have free fare bus”), and he’s an Aries. He doesn’t have a go-to karaoke song but would start with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”
He’s a “huge Game of Thrones fan” and recently finished reading George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. His cats made a cameo during the interview — “He is over there banging. We need child locks over here in this home because of cats.”
Tapia also noted he’s built a TikTok following of nearly 10,000 followers for political advocacy and founded the community organization Liberty Lens.
“You guys aren’t getting rid of me that easy,” he said. “I’m still going to be here even after the election, still helping out, still volunteering.”
Learn more at madisontapiaforalx.com
Listen to the entire conversation as a podcast above or wherever you get your podcasts, and/or watch the conversation below.
