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2020 Student Opinion: Super Tuesday and Beyond

See what Mason students on the Fairfax campus had to say ahead of Super Tuesday (video courtesy of Mason Cable Network):

The students of COMM 145 (Newspaper Workshop I) interviewed a range of students on Mason’s Fairfax campus ahead of Super Tuesday when Virginia and 13 other states vote for their choice in the Democratic Primary.

Students were asked about the issues most important to them, who they planned to vote for on Super Tuesday, and what party will get their vote in the presidential election on November 3, 2020.

Here is what they had to say:

___________________

Jansci Drinkwater, Junior, Marketing

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. It’s politically correct.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Deciding between Biden and Bloomberg

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Warren

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Women’s Rights
  2. LGBTQ Rights (taking a class about trans rights)
  3. Military Power (father is a veteran)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Democrat

Why is it important for young people to vote? “We have the power, so why are we not voting?”

___________________

Grace Walker, Freshman, Forensic Science

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. Everyone should vote because one vote can make change.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Sanders

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Warren

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Environment/Climate Change (“We have one planet to live on and it’s being destroyed.”)
  2. Education/Student Loan Debt (costs are out of control)
  3. Taxes on Feminine Care (it’s a biological function and should not be taxed)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Not eligible to vote

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Democrat

Why is it important for young people to vote? “We tend to have more progressive voices and will lead the future of this country.”

___________________

Shawn Ouellette, Senior, Communication

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “No. They are all really terrible candidates.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? n/a

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? n/a

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Abortion (“I’m pro-life.”)
  2. Gun Rights
  3. Immigration

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Donald Trump (R)

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Republican

Why is it important for young people to vote? “It’s more about educating people on issues than just voting to vote.”

___________________

Mia Pulley, Junior, History

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. Because I’m a college student and my vote matters.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Biden

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Warren

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Social Security (“I don’t think I should put money in a program other people benefit from.”)
  2. Women’s Rights/Birth Control (“No one should be telling me what to do with my body.”)
  3. Racial Equality (“There is a ‘glass ceiling’ for race.”)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Democrat

Why is it important for young people to vote? “It is extremely important. We must start preparing for the future now.”

___________________

Wingel Caburian, Junior, Communication

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. I want to participate because I recently became a U.S. citizen.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Sanders

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Yang

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Illegal Immigration (“My family members went through the process and everyone should.”)
  2. Environment/Climate Change (worried about the future of the planet)
  3. Student Debt (costs should be lowered)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Undecided

Why is it important for young people to vote? “We need to get our voices heard.”

___________________

Philip Wilkerson, Non-degree Graduate Student, Higher Education

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. A voteless people is a hopeless people.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Warren

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Sanders

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Justice Reform (drug rehab and post-prison reentry programs at the federal level)
  2. Student Debt
  3. Immigration (need to pass Dream Act)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Democrat

Why is it important for young people to vote? “Young people need to vote [their peers] into office and more young people should run.”

___________________

Jordan Lear, Sophomore, Communication

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. I want somebody better than Trump.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Sanders (absentee)

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Warren

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Environment/Climate Change (“I’m tired of the disbelief.”)
  2. Gun Control (pass background checks and stricter ownership rules)
  3. Student Debt (“College doesn’t have to be free, but it needs to be more affordable.”)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Not eligible to vote

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Democrat

Why is it important for young people to vote? “This is about the next four years of our lives. It’s our social and political life. It affects us all.”

___________________

Ian Dickson, Junior, Marketing

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Possibly.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Bloomberg

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? No second choice

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Environment (stop global warming)
  2. Abortion
  3. Gun Control (2nd Amendment)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Didn’t vote

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Undecided

___________________

Elijah Kohn, Freshman, Environmental Science

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. It’s important for everyone to vote. Political efficacy should be practiced.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Sanders

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Warren

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Student Debt (should be decreased)
  2. Environment/Climate Change (“The current president isn’t doing anything.”)
  3. Health Care (drug prices are too expensive in the U.S.)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Not eligible to vote

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Democrat

Why is it important for young people to vote? “Young people need to get their voices heard.”

___________________

Anonymous, Junior, Global Affairs

Do you plan to vote on Super Tuesday? Why or why not? “Yes. It’s my civic duty.”

Which candidate to you plan to vote for in the primary? Sanders

Which primary candidate is your second choice (assuming your preferred candidate doesn’t win a majority of delegates)? Warren

Top three issues in 2020:

  1. Immigration (“This issue affects my community.”)
  2. Health Care (impacts all Americans)
  3. Student Debt (“This issue affects people in my age group.”)

Who did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Didn’t vote

Which party do you plan to vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Democrat

Why is it important for young people to vote? “A lot of issues concern young people but often we don’t vote, leaving us underrepresented.”

___________________

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