As the crisp autumn air drafts through the windows of Cherie Eulau’s classroom at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), the seniors of Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics (AP Gov) excitedly prepare for the annual mock presidential election. As a part of the political participation unit, students learn the value of citizenship through nominating their candidates, campaigning on carefully crafted platforms and debating to establish their influence on voters. In periods one, four and five, a diverse array of seniors arrange their campaigns to win the votes of their fellow Dragons.

Eulau has hosted these mock elections for over 10 years during her time at Foothill Tech. She began the annual process to encourage a fun experience for her students, as well as “to mimic and capture the energy of [national elections].”

She further explained the wide variety of issues that her students will be discussing. Eulau highlighted that “each class can vote on what they [want to address].” The candidates are building their platforms off of a myriad of political and social concerns, including subjects of immigration, environmental issues, national economics, gun control, foreign policy and reproductive rights.

In addition to this, Eulau emphasized the high quality of the candidates for this 2023 election. “Last year they got to be a little silly … based on the acceptance speeches that they’ve already done, it seems as though … they have real policies that they’re gonna back up.” She added that she is “interested to see the nuances of [the candidates’] policies,” as she looks forward to the articulation of their plans in the upcoming debates. 

Because the elections are held as a part of the AP Gov unit on political participation, Eulau hopes that this simulation will teach her students to “understand how the electoral college works and some of the issues with it.” Understanding what the parties have power over and what they don’t is also key with this unit, as students create and are nominated for their own carefully crafted parties.

The voters of these three periods consist of fellow AP Gov seniors, as well as Claire Adams’ and Eulau’s sophomore students. In Eulau’s first period, Lola Tennison ‘24, Max Rose ‘24, Ethan Ortiz ‘24 and Evangelista Cobos ‘24 are running to be elected by their peers. In fourth period, Laura Szavo ‘24, Alfred Borkowski ‘24 and Cameryn Henuber ‘24 hope to win the vote. Fifth period candidates consist of Kelly Quinn ‘24, Liliana Ventura ‘24 and Zane Hill ‘24. After collaborating with their campaign teams, the candidates of each period will establish the policies that they will institute if elected as president. Debates will be held in Eulau’s classroom on Nov. 2, 2023 for first and fifth periods, as well as Nov. 3 for fourth period. The elections themselves will be held on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9. 

Lola Tennison ‘24 is the nominated candidate of the “Tennison Campaign.” The focal points of her campaign are abortion rights, gun control and immigration. (Claire Hadley)

Lola Tennison 

Tennison is currently running as the candidate for her political party, the “Tennison Campaign.” The main focuses of her campaign consist of abortion rights, gun control and immigration. She aims to “alleviate some of the domestic tensions … that are up in the air right now.”

She emphasized the importance of voting in national politics, encouraging her voters to “go after what you believe … We have to try to do our best for the American people. My motto is ‘putting the ball in the people’s court!’” In terms of promoting voter outreach, especially to the sophomores, she and her team are focusing on video promotions through social media and teacher endorsements. When asked why she is running for president, Tennison expressed, “I am running for women and people of color … as a minority [herself].”

Max Rose ‘24, the nominated candidate of the “Rose Party,” wants to improve current immigration policies, increase gun control, create more abortion rights and reform the police system. (Claire Hadley)

Max Rose

Rose was nominated by his peers to run for president as the candidate for the “Rose Party.” The main focuses of his campaign consist of immigration concerns, gun control, abortion rights and police reform. In addressing his voters, he emphasized, “I’m here for you, I’m here for the people. I’m not just another candidate that wants your support and is just gonna back out on you.”

He highlighted his strategies in delivering his message to voters by stating, “We’re talking to a lot of teachers and getting teacher endorsements.” Rose further commented, “I am running because I feel that America is in need of progress and we’ve had progress stunted for far too long.”

As the presidential candidate of the “Purple’s People Party,” Ethan Ortiz’s ’24 main campaign points are immigration, the current economic climate and the well being of citizens. (Claire Hadley)

Ethan Ortiz

Ortiz received the nomination and is currently running as the candidate for the “Purple People’s Party.” The main focuses of his campaign consist of immigration, the current economic climate and “the general well-being of our American citizens,” Ortiz emphasized.

As a message to his voters, he stated, “My party will exist as another option for the American people.” He highlighted the current polarity of national politics as a primary reason for his campaign, targeting those who feel isolated from the two-party system. He expressed, “We need another lens to see through the eyes of a new America.” By communicating his message to his peers as well as the sophomore voters, Ortiz hopes to “be another option for the American people.”

Evangelista Cobos ’24 is the nominated candidate for the Progressive Party. She and her campaign have created a significant amount of media to promote her candidacy, as she poses in front of the American flag to demonstrate her devotion to serving her voters. (Evangelista Cobos)

Evangelista Cobos

Cobos was nominated by her peers to run for president as the candidate for the Progressive Party. The main focuses of her campaign consist of environmental issues, as she expressed, “Whether it’s discussing walkable infrastructure in cities or an attempt to increase electric vehicle usage, our biggest priority is the issue that will affect not only our country but the whole world.” She also emphasized her focus on healthcare and reproductive rights. 

As a message to her voters, Cobos stated, “We want equity, peace and justice, we want to be able to prove that it isn’t our country that needs to be ‘great again’ but instead, a country that needs to be made greater.” As an Indigenous woman, she feels “deeply connected to the many pressing issues America is currently facing.”

Laura Szavo ‘24 is the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. Her campaign’s main focus is immigration, gun control and veterans reform. (Claire Hadley)

Laura Szavo

Szavo is currently running as the candidate for the Democratic Party. The main focuses of her campaign are immigration, gun control and veterans reform. She expressed, “[we’re] making it easier for immigrants to become citizens after spending time in the United States.” She continued, “These are [issues] in the country that are talked about, but are brushed to the side because of certain First Amendment rights.”

In addressing her voters, she wishes for them to “think with a clear conscience and don’t let biased opinions influence you.” To promote voter outreach, Szavo is focusing on social media and increasing her volume of campaign posters around Eulau’s classroom. When asked why she is running for president, she emphasized, “Politics is something that I’ve always been interested in, and it’s a good experience to get a feel of what it’s like.”

Nature enthusiast Alfred Borkowski ’24 is the candidate for the Green Party. He strives for the people to have better representation in government and to make environmental advancements. (Claire Hadley)

Alfred Borkowski 

Borkowski was nominated by his peers to run for president as the candidate for the Green Party. The main focuses of his campaign are ecological reform, constitutional reform and socioeconomic reform. He expressed, “People really don’t see themselves in the government, and I’m pushing for a more representative government which will entail environmental concerns.”

As a message to his voters, Borkowski continued, “As we’re seeing this political division in Congress and the Senate, even the presidential elections, I want you to see yourself in that.” He elaborated by explaining how the divisiveness of government doesn’t reflect the populace, so he wants to lead the “moderate environmentalist movement” to the public. 

Cameryn Henuber ’24 is the nominated candidate for the “Social Transhumanist Party.” She and her campaign have created a significant amount of posters to promote her candidacy, with a slogan to accompany her media influence: “Henuber’s heart, tomorrow’s start.” (Cameryn Henuber)

Cameryn Henuber

Henuber received the nomination and is currently running as the candidate for the “Social Transhumanist Party.” The main focuses of her campaign are health care, economic reform and federalizing immigration policies. Henuber is also prioritizing environmental issues and gun control policies as a part of her platform. 

In addressing her voters, Henuber expressed, “… our party strives to improve the everyday lives of the people, especially the working class.” She further emphasized, “I am running because I believe I could be the strong president that his country needs … While also being the president that brings together our nation.”

As the presidential candidate for the “Future First Party,” Kelly Quinn’s ’24 main goal is to save the planet through focusing on the future. (Claire Hadley)

Kelly Quinn

Quinn is currently running as the candidate for the “Future First Party.” The main focus of his campaign is “thinking about tomorrow,” which consists of an emphasis on the environment and “improving where we get our energy from.” Specifically, Quinn is addressing nuclear energy, hydro-power and space travel.

He highlighted his message to voters by stating, “What matters most is preserving the future for our kids and their kids, so that they have an Earth to live on.” Through his campaign, Quinn hopes to “create a better future for the United States and the world.”

As presidential candidate of the Democratic Socialist Party, Liliana Ventura’s ’24 main focuses are giving power to the people of the United States, environmental reform and affordable healthcare. (Claire Hadley)

Liliana Ventura

Ventura was nominated by her peers to run for president as the candidate for the Democratic Socialist Party. The main focuses of her campaign are, as she stated, “giving back to the people to help the people see themselves in our government, along with environmental reform and equitable healthcare services for America.”

She continued by addressing her voters, emphasizing that caring about political issues isn’t a task that should be a burden. “[Voting] is something that you should do because you care about your future … It can help you understand the things around you as well.” Ventura is focusing on promoting her campaign within the community, and stated her reasoning for running as coming from her love of politics and the importance of providing equitable services to poorer citizens, expressing, “I think that’s important … especially when that percentage of people is a big percentage of America.”

Presidential candidate Zane Hill ’24 poses with members of his political campaign: Leah Lai ’24, Gabriel Takaya ’24 and Lily Toreja ’24. As head of the “The Women’s Equality Party,” he is campaigning against gender based domestic abuse and the pay wage gap. (Claire Hadley)

Zane Hill

Hill received the nomination and is currently running as the candidate for the “Women’s Equality Party.” The main focuses of his campaign are gender issues, more specifically, “the wage gap … and domestic abuse,” Hill stated. He emphasized the importance of women to America, and by not facing these issues, the country will run into numerous problems. 

To promote his outreach to voters, Hill hopes to reach them through social media to encourage them towards his campaign. He concluded, “I’m running for the future of America. I’m running so that women have a voice and can help the country.”