By Fatima Marzett
Youth vote was up in the midterm elections, favoring Democrats.
According to Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, the youth turnout was the second highest in the past three decades with 27% of college-aged people voting.
Noted in the same report, “According to the Edison Research National Election Pool exit poll, the national youth vote choice for the U.S. House of Representatives was 63% for Democrats and 35% for Republicans. That’s almost identical to 2020.”
College of Southern Nevada student Diana Robinson said, “The reason why I voted Democrat is because I lean more towards women’s rights and I don’t understand why Republicans are trying to change the law on abortion. Women have the right to choose. As a woman I don’t feel comfortable with others making my decisions in regard to healthcare and my future. I fear for what else could be changed in the future.”
Additionally, Robinson added, the Democratic Party is fighting for student loan forgiveness through an executive order by President Joseph Biden. “I’m hoping that the student loan forgiveness will resume because I’m hoping some of my student loans can be erased.” She worries about gas prices, inflation and a recession. She thinks Democrats can better help with those issues.
Democrats took a few important seats.
Catherine Cortez Masto said in her U.S. Senate victory speech in Las Vegas, “I will protect the healthcare for millions of Americans. I am ready for more tough fights like that so when Republicans try to force through a federal abortion ban, I’m going to stop them.” Cortez Masto won the race against Adam Laxalt.
Steven Horsford won back his spot in Congress.
Another heated race was U.S. Congress seat that went to Dina Titus with more than 52% of the vote surpassing Mark Robertson. Titus will pursue union rights as one of her priorities.
Some Republican leadership is coming in.
Steve Sisolak lost the governorship to Joe Lombardo. From police force to politics, Lombardo will pursue a GOP agenda.
Other CSN students voted in this midterm election. Some saw their candidates loose.
CSN student Deven Lafleur said, “Yesss. I voted for Steve Sisolak; I was not a fan of Joe Lombardo. For the Senate I voted for Catherine Cortez Masto.”
CSN student Noah Bakke said, “I voted for Steve Sisolak. I love his ideas and beliefs that will largely benefit the public. He fights for free college, and I do feel free college really benefits myself and other students. It is a struggle trying to do schoolwork while also doing work part-time.”
CSN student Dayanara Brown voted for Laxalt because she didn’t like how Sisolak closed everything during the pandemic and he didn’t initiate stimulus checks for the people. “I feel more connected to Laxalt because he went to school here in Nevada because it is his hometown. I feel that he is going to represent us better because he knows from personal experience what needs to change and become better.”
“Young people, ages 18-29, turned out to vote in the 2022 midterm election and helped decide critical races, wielding the growing power of a generation that is increasingly engaged even as many remain disillusioned about U.S. politics,” as noted in the Tufts’ report.
Coyote Student News at the College of Southern Nevada 