On the day of the 2022 midterm elections, I pulled up to the childhood home of Claudia Conway.
Instead, there was a clear path to the front door.
That door swung open before I could knock.
Inside stood Claudia Conway, dressed in a black T-shirt dress and black-and-white Jordan 1s.
At 5-foot-1, she looked tiny in the vast entryway, flanked by tall white columns.
Hey, Im Claudia!
she says warmly, enveloping me in a hug.
Then she shuffled back inside and, without hesitation, told me to come right on in.
Claudia Conway turned 18in mid-October.
When we meet, there are still rainbow birthday balloons hovering on the ceiling of her kitchen.
Because I could not be any [more] different from where I came from.
Even before TikTok, no one could deny that Claudias childhood was unusual.
This was before he had officially announced his candidacy.
And I was like, I dont know.
Over the summer, afterRoe v. Wadewas overturned, Claudiahelped organize protests in support of abortion rights.
Claudia, shes not scared, he says.
Shes not tall, but her voice is loud.
Screaming into the microphone, echoing things, I was like, Wow thats powerful.
when that really wasnt the case at all.
Currently, the Conways are spread out on the East Coast.
You take part of it with you and leave part of you behind.
Speaking of my mom, Claudia says.
Our relationship is great now.
Im not going to talk about my moms trauma because its her story, not mine, she says.
Ive learned so much about her.
Shes been with people helped people get abortions.
Over email, though, she tells Bustle theres no question the two have found political common ground.
Claudia and I recognize that we agree on plenty, because weve talked about it.
I wish more families, friends, and Americans would.
At times in her life, Claudia has bristled at the way her mothers identity has loomed over her.
Like, Oh, well, Claudias mom isnt here… (Reps for Perry andIdoldid not comment.)
Today, she is less opposed to keeping family out of her public life.
I think that could be really powerful, Claudia says.
Claudias political awakeninghappened slowly, then all at once.
I was taught that Democrats are killing babies and gay marriage is not OK, she says.
I dont think it was with any malicious intent, growing up especially thats just what I was told.
Shes very creative and entrepreneurial.
I definitely have a preference for women, she says.
I dont see myself ever being with a man, ever.
[My mom would] be like, What is wrong with you?
But yeah, Im just gay.
Claudia describes her family as generally accepting.
(Shes loved unconditionally and shes supported unequivocally, no matter who she loves, Kellyanne writes.)
But she is frustrated with some of her moms public statements on LGBTQ+ issues.
Growing up queer, I wouldve loved to learn about it and see representation of somebody like myself.
Still, nothing cemented her opposition to right-wing politics like the events of 2016.
But you might still have open-minded conversations thats something so important that I learned.
I certainly wont be voting for any Republican candidates.
Hope you all voted, she wrote on Instagram, and added three red hearts.
Then she posted it.
Photographs by Sara Naomi Lewkowicz
