07 Nov Election Day Dispatches: Richmond Voters Speak Out on Presidential Race

(Photo by Jonathan Simcoe on Unsplash)

CC Pulse Staff Report

Editor’s note: The Contra Costa Pulse went to polling places to connect with voters in Richmond. Voters were divided on issues, including the next president of the United States, local measures, and the City Council. Before the polls closed, the votes were counted, and Donald Trump was once again named the next president of the United States, Richmond voters told us who they picked to lead the country and why. Their comments have been lightly edited for clarity.

 

Kayla Brown

I actually voted for not Kamala and not Trump because we are in a blue state and I really believe we need a third party and the U.S. and also even locally, we need third parties.

[I voted for] Chase Oliver. So he is openly gay and out, which is obviously I’m also gay, so that’s kind of cool. The other thing is that he is pro-marriage equality, of course, which is, I think, really important in today’s climate. He is … pro-choice, which is another very important thing.

We do live in a blue state, so I definitely think Kamala is going to get the vote here. I think in general, we as a nation have become all about it’s this or that instead of ever seeing a middle ground.

 

Doris Butcher, 55

I voted for Harris because she’s for women’s rights and a lot of her beliefs are what I believe in.

The main thing is I want to save all women’s rights, reproductive rights, and no one should be telling a woman what they can and can’t do, especially a man and especially the government.

I’m so tired of all the politics anyway, especially with the first round of Trump’s silly ass being here.

So I really just try and focus on the main things, but I’m so over politics the way it is.

Delbert Butcher, 55

Nationally, it was Kamala Harris mainly because [of] her beliefs. And then just the things that the Republicans are doing right now, I don’t condone because right now they’ve gotten away from the basics.  They’re not a uniform party anymore. 

Not to say that I was going to vote for them anyway, but like I say, the antics that are going on — it’s just, I don’t care for it. But I do like the things that Kamala is promoting, like women’s rights and trying to work for middle class and lower-class, trying to help us with some tax breaks and affordable living and everything else. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.

[About the possibility of the first female president]: Well, it would be historic, but also we need to change somewhere. This hopefully would spark a change.

A different type of thinking in the White House — that’s what we need and that’s what she would give. It doesn’t matter what color she is. It’s just because she’s female. Different type of thinking, different way of approaching things. That’s possibly what we need so that we can change some things that are going on here in America.

We’re praying that she wins. That’s all we can hope for right now.

 

Vered Cohen, 54

Nationally, I felt like I didn’t have many choices. One of the choices for me was a person that speaks clearly and we understand what they’re talking about. And the other option was not even an option because it’s a person that changes his mind every few minutes and talks terrible.

I wouldn’t choose him as a a person to lead anything, let alone a country. I don’t know how he got to that. The fact that I’m talking male, I guess you know who I’m talking about.

But, yeah, it’s absurd that he’s in that position.

 

Alfred Zuniga, 91

I voted for Vice President Harris because I feel that most of her positions are similar to positions that I hold. As the [California attorney general] in Sacramento, she came down and legitimized the first gay marriage in San Francisco during 2013. She seems to always have been right at the moment when history is breaking one way or the other. Born of parents from a Caribbean island and somebody who’s African American, and a mother from India, it was kind of like she was being prepared to serve a society that is multi-ethnic or multi-position. I’ve been following her career since she entered politics.

Rick Singh

The reason I came here to vote for Donald Trump is because when he was president, I felt like things were a little bit different — things that matter to me like the price of food, rent, and gas. Ever since Biden came, these things skyrocketed. To vote for Kamala… I just feel like I’m voting for Biden again. Hopefully things can go back to what they were instead of the way they are now.

 

I brought the family out. My granddaughter put the ballot in. Hopefully the ballot that she put in is momentous.

I would not vote for Trump. I grew up knowing who he is… a self-centered individual, and as president, he definitely only has himself in mind.

If it wasn’t for the people that went into his administration when he went in the first time and kind of kept him from going way crazy, we’d be in a different situation right now. There’s no way this cat should be president — no way. I’m not going to say Kamala is the answer; there’s a lot of folks from the area that don’t see her in a very favorable light. But I think if you’re choosing the lesser of two evils — and I’m not saying she’s evil — I think she’s the best choice.

 

Nick Valaris, 44

It’s a very hard choice. My household is definitely swinging Kamala.

I’m for women’s rights, and my main concern is abortion. I think everyone should have the right, not just leave it up to the states.

Karima Lacy

I went to a historically black college and am a sister of Kamala Harris, meaning I believe in everything she stands for. Just to see the change and kind of get the government to go in the right direction and lead our young kids because, right now, they’re kind of wayward. I think her leadership can change society’s trajectory right now.

[On one of her main concerns this election]: Abortion rights. Even being a devout Christian, there are drastic situations that not even God knew would happen to you. In certain situations, you can die if you don’t get rid of the baby. People are traveling to other states, then you become a burden on that city or place.

Norm Clausen, 77

“We’ve got to keep the big orange blob out.” (Presidential race most important to him)

The right to marriage was a very big [issue] for me.

[Voting for Harris] was basically an anti-Trump vote. For basically the last 10 years, he is on the news multiple times every single day, and it gets worse and worse.

Emily Tang, 48

I didn’t want Trump to win the presidency because I believe that he is a bigot. Even though he has been seen shaking hands with minorities and meeting with minorities, I think it’s just a mask.

I would like to see women retain as much right to their bodies as possible. It’s not just their bodies, it’s their futures — frankly, we have a population explosion. So, I’m OK with abortion if the woman agrees to that.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] cares about the ingredients in our food and the nutrition of the common folk.

Jerome Gourdine, 57

I like [Harris’] stance on women’s rights and more affordable housing. They’re really running a campaign of transparency and not trying to get caught up in the negative tones — just sticking to the issues.

Jason Jones, 46

Just doing my civic duty and making sure Kamala hopefully gets into office — I’m pretty sure she will.

Donald Trump — we don’t want that again.

Carlos Mendez, 32

[On why he voted for Trump]: All I know is that the economy was doing better a few years ago. You can tell there’s a big difference. A lot more people were working. And the immigration problem — it’s just kind of outrageous how they let so many people in.

Daisy Barragan

I’m really hoping that everything, regardless of who gets elected, doesn’t break into chaos like previous years, but really hoping that Kamala is elected and that we still have our basic human rights after the election.

Election Day Dispatches: Richmond Voters Speak Out on Local Races