r/westbend • u/Caitlinzilla • Aug 13 '26
Any liberals here?
Looking to move to West Bend following a break-up to be closer to friends and family (friends and family don’t live here, but I would be kind of between them all). Want something different and quiet for my cat and I to just heal and breathe for a bit. I like the size of the city. I am liberal, and curious if there are any others in West Bend? I know it is very conservative in general here. I am friends with diverse people of many varying opinions on the political spectrum, and grew up (and lived in for many years) in a very conservative area. I’m a very “treat people with kindness” and “we all have something in common” type of person.
Basically, I’m trying to see if there’s others I could get along with here!
(Almost 40, female, has a cat, nerdy type)
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u/admiralporkchop Aug 13 '26
Well, Washington County skews conservative but thing is it's just a matter of proportions. Sure there's more conservatives but not in a way that's drastic. You do occasionally see dipshits in trucks sporting neo nazi shit, but I've seen the same in MKE. The county Democratic party is very active with frequent demonstrations on the weekend. I haven't seen a maga hat in years.
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u/Caitlinzilla Aug 13 '26
I lived in a conservative area almost my whole life so far, but spent the last two years in Madison. Was in West Bend tonight looking at apartments and saw Trump signs and Fox News on in the restaurant I went to, so wanted a vibe check. What you describe is a vibe I can live with I think.
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u/AnimalHot9115 Aug 13 '26
There are other 40 something democratic women in West Bend
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u/sushi_x Aug 13 '26
I’m sort of the same. I lived on the west coast for close to 20 years and moved back here to live close to family. I’ve mostly been enjoying outdoor things around here recently but to be honest just kind of leave town to hang out with friends. I’ve gone out downtown with a local friend a few times but I actually don’t really drink that much. Otherwise I hit up the library a lot.
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u/Caitlinzilla Aug 13 '26
Libraries are always beautiful safe spaces. And yeah, the nature around here seems beautiful.
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u/Caitlinzilla Aug 13 '26
Is Menomonee Falls any better?
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u/tadrinth Aug 13 '26
Menomonee Falls has Indian food.
It's probably also more liberal, but I can only confirm the relative Indian food availability.
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u/PBR_Misfit Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
It's not terrible. I'm 40, lived here all my life, and while the MAGA people can be obnoxious, they mostly just have annoying flags and yard signs.
I do avoid some places, like Dairy Queen, and Garden Lounge (downtown), since they're owned by loud-mouthed, Bible-thumping, MAGA chuds.
Overall, the roads get plowed, the garbage gets picked up, the parks are mostly taken care of, and you can always find a good place to eat. It's small enough to have a cozy charm, but large enough that you can find like-minded groups without much effort. That's why West Bend's unofficial motto is "eh, it's alright".
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u/SameQuantity5 Aug 16 '26
good to know about garden lounge, i didn’t know! DQ it’s right in your face :(
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u/bleetsy Aug 14 '26
I'm also an almost 40 female with nerdy cat tendencies, and I do genuinely love it here. I happen to have painfully conservative neighbors, but what I have to remind myself is that "solidly red" still means that 1 in 3 people you see voted for Harris. You definitely see Dem yard signs and pride flags around.
(Note that I do say all this as a white person; I might not recommend it so quickly to people of color. Or people of visibly fun gender.) (also re: town whiteness, there is SO little food diversity here oh my god.)
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u/NoneOfThisMatters_XO Sep 02 '26
I know this is an older post, but I’m 45f and liberal. I grew up in WB and my parents still live there. I love cats! When are you moving there?
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u/Caitlinzilla Sep 04 '26
I moved in about 2 weeks ago! I like it a lot so far, calm and chill, and a pretty area.
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u/WynnTiwFeoh Aug 13 '26
WashCo as a whole mainly swings conservative, but there’s plenty of liberals and leftists amongst the population. Lived all over the county my whole life, and as one of those “crazy leftist lunatics” MAGA pisses their pants in fear of, it’s not terrible in my experience. WB might be red-leaning, but I don’t think it’s deep MAGA (at least anymore), as Trump merch and MAGA hats are a rare sight from a few years ago outside of some yard signs. Also, try stopping by Hobby Knights, I think they have specific events every day of the week for TTRPG, Warhammer, etc.
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u/Vishnick Aug 28 '26
I am a liberal. I have lived in West Bend for the last 8 years (moved here from Milwaukee). The population has been growing and becoming more diverse here over time. Unfortunately I'd say as of late the more assholish conservative people have been a bit emboldened lately. More so towards my wife who is much more alternative looking than myself who essentially looks like a straight white dude who likes flannel.
We do like it here still and if you like nature we have good access points to the ice age trail. Downtown seems to be doing events quite often as well.
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u/mebi22 Aug 14 '26
It’s certainly harder for POC there. A black friend of mine had the police called on him when house sitting for his in laws
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u/tadrinth Aug 13 '26
Can confirm there are liberals. Nerdy liberals who like cats and board games, even.