This article is a continuation of the 2024 Presidential Election series that delves into all facets of the 2024 Presidential Election, held on Nov. 5, 2024. If you are curious about student opinions at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), presidential candidates or campaign maps, this series is for you.
On the night of Nov. 5, 2024 (a particularly dry and windy night in Ventura County, Calif.), the United States of America all held their breath in anticipation for the tidings of a new era. And, no, it was not a rehearsal for New Year’s Eve. No matter one’s gender, race, religion or location on planet Earth, the seismic waves of the 2024 United States Presidential Election could be felt across the world.
As a certain map began lighting up in reds and blues, the world erupted into a frenzy at 2:41 a.m. PST when it became clear that one candidate had significantly pulled ahead: former President Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, of the Republican Party.
They had won the race.
From some angles, this was a surprising defeat for the Democratic Candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Pre-election polls such as the Marist Poll had shown the Democrats to be slightly more popular with a 4-point lead.
On the other hand, official election results show that Trump and Vance had a significant lead of 312 electoral college votes to Harris and Walz’s 226. The popular vote was closer, with the Republicans leading by less than 3 million votes.
Trump’s staggering victory can be attributed to the astounding sweep of the seven key battleground states of 2024: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Even states that usually swung blue in past elections, such as Pennsylvania and Nevada, had turned red.
But what do students at Foothill Tech think?
A poll of 244 students by two of Foothill Tech’s English and history teachers, Daniel Fitzpatrick and Richard Geib, have shown a clear preference for Harris with a prominent 62.7 percent lead to Trump’s 30.3.
Some students asserted their support. Student A stated, “I’m looking forward to the economics. I thought Trump’s economic policies were really good, specifically with his way of manufacturing in America and his military improvements.”
Other students showed worry. Student B expressed, “I’m slightly concerned about a lot of social policies and the social climate moving forward.” They then elaborated by stating, “I’m pretty concerned about the fact that the House [of Representatives] and much of the Senate are in line with one party, which might not be as beneficial to the whole checks and balances.”
Continuing with the same worry of unbalanced power in the federal government, Student C wondered, “What more will the Supreme Court overturn?” in reference to the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.
However, Student C clarified that “a lot of people villainize people who voted for Trump, and I don’t agree with them … A lot of my family supports him and I don’t really let that get in the way of them being my family; I’m not going to start an argument with my uncle at dinner.”
With every presidential election comes a shift in the nation’s dynamics. Change is an inevitable and necessary part of history, and we must keep our eyes forward towards the future. Keep an open perspective, a logical mind, an empathetic heart and don’t stop to rejoice or grieve; what we are experiencing now is not the end of the race.
