DES MOINES, Iowa — Every four years, Americans have the chance to change the direction of the country by supporting a new presidential candidate. For C.J. Petersen, the shift in choices couldn’t be more dramatic.

The gay 25-year-old resident of Council Buffs, Iowa, worked as a volunteer in 2012 to help Mitt Romney win the Republican nomination and elect him to the White House. Now, he’s turned 180 degrees and is working for Democratic presidential candidate Bernard Sanders.

“Obviously, I’ve made a conversion in the last several years,” Petersen said. “I support Bernie Sanders because in the past several years the influence of money in politics has really started to become a real sticking point for me as it does, I think, with a lot of people. I really value democracy and I think it should be a participatory system, so Bernie’s message really started to speak to me when he announced his campaign for president.”

In 2012, Petersen along with other young, gay Republican caucus-goers in the Des Moines area participated in a group interview with the Washington Blade to explain their support for GOP candidates. At the time, Petersen said Romney looked “almost presidential, ready to be a leader.”

Four years later, Petersen told the Washington Blade he registered as an independent after the 2012 Romney loss, and is now a registered Democrat.

Although Petersen grew up as a conservative in a conservative family, he said he “learned and came to terms with the idea that it’s OK to put yourself first in a lot of ways.” After writing a research paper on Sanders for a composition class, Petersen said he “fell in love with progressive politics that he embodies.”

What was attractive about Sanders, Petersen said, was the candidate’s “inclusive message,” which Petersen said never made him feel “more at home” — even when he was volunteering for Romney.

“The larger message Sen. Sanders brings to the conversation is that we’re all in this together, whether you’re Republican, Democrat, independent or what have you,” Petersen said.

Petersen acknowledged Sanders’ record on LGBT rights is one reason he supports the candidate, but said that issue wasn’t a major factor.

“I was very impressed to see that he was one of the very few members of the House of Representatives, and Congress in general, that voted against DOMA in 1996,” Petersen said. “And of course, there’s that contrast with Secretary Clinton. I think, yes, that’s something I like about him, but it’s not necessarily what brought me into the fold.”

A typical day on the Sanders campaign, Petersen said, consists of making phone calls, canvassing door-to-door and leading other volunteers affiliated with the campaign. On Saturday, Petersen said he was undertaking such efforts in Atlantic, Iowa, and leading efforts from a volunteer’s home.

“Lately, it’s been 9 or 10 in the morning until whenever we’re done in the evening, 8 o’clock or 9 o’clock,” Petersen said. “Every day is different working for any political candidate.”

Petersen, who formerly worked for an insurance company but is now unemployed, said he’s won other converts to Sanders’ side (Petersen’s mother is lifelong Republican, but intends to caucus for Sanders). His personal conversion from Romney supporter to Democrat, Petersen said, is “an effective message.”

While Hillary Clinton might seem more like the logical choice for a former Republican seeking to support a Democrat in 2016, Petersen said she embodies what is wrong with politics and with the Republican Party.

“What I guess I would say is my own personal politics are much more libertarian in retrospect than conservative, so I guess the natural home for me or for someone who is looking for something real, something that is anti-establishment,” Petersen said.

In fact, Petersen cast doubt on the perception that Clinton is the more electable Democrat in the general election compared to Sanders.

“I think the Republicans will be much more motivated to beat Hillary if she were the nominee, personally,” Petersen said. “My Republican friends and family members, they’re much more willing to consider Bernie. I think Bernie would be much more able to pull Republican votes away from Donald Trump or Ted Cruz if they are the nominee of the Republican Party.”

Petersen scoffed at the suggestion he’s backing Sanders in an attempt to undermine Democrats in the general election by facilitating the nomination of a candidate who’s seen as less electable.

“I would say that’s hogwash,” Petersen said. “I mean, if I wanted to beat Secretary Clinton and that was my entire goal, I’d be supporting someone like John Kasich.

Although polls show a tight race between Sanders and Clinton, Petersen predicted Sanders would win the Iowa caucuses. The outcome of the caucuses, Petersen said, depends on turnout and enthusiasm, but he added “the wind is at our backs.”

After Iowa, Petersen expressed optimism Sanders would win the Democratic nomination and the White House in November.

“I’m not doing this so I can make a political statement,” Petersen said. “I’m doing this to elect a president. I’m doing it so that our future will not belong to..the Wall Street political class. He’s the only candidate in the race for me that it really worth it. That’s why I’m here. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think he could win.”