Today is Super Tuesday, a day when the greatest number of U.S. states hold primary elections and caucuses across the nation. Over one-third of all available candidates for both the Republican and Democratic parties are currently being voted on, and today will give strong insight into the trajectory of the 2024 presidential election.
Registered L.A. County voters can cast their votes at the Los Angeles County Vote Center at the USC Village from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Annenberg Media talked to California voters at the USC Village polls to get more insight on the presidential race.
Q: Who did you vote for as your presidential candidate?
“Joe Biden,” said Vijay Damerla, a senior environmental studies and political science double major. “I mean, it’s a two-party system. And unfortunately, it’s a plurality, not a majority system. So if you don’t vote for the chosen candidate from either two major parties, you are essentially wasting your vote. So I’m voting for Joe Biden, in a way to make sure Donald Trump doesn’t become president again.”
“I am independent, registered independent, so I did not cast a ballot,” said Jennifer Lot, a 45-year-old USC Kauffman professor. “I’ve been a Democrat in the past, and I’m having a hard time right now. I wouldn’t vote for Trump, but [I’m] pretty frustrated with Joe Biden.”
“Marianne Williamson,” said Nicole Grubbs, a sophomore and legal studies major. “I really like that she called for a ceasefire [in Gaza] and that she was part of the Democratic Party.”
“I’m planning on voting for Biden even though I don’t really agree with everything that he stands for right now,” said Athena Burrs, a junior and San Mateo County voter, despite rating him a two out of ten on how satisfied she was with him as a candidate.
Q: What do you want to see in a presidential candidate?
“For me right now, I’m looking for someone who is dynamic and brave and who is willing to go against the status quo but can also collaborate and inspire people,” Lott said. “And I think we are really lacking visionary leadership right now. So I’m hoping that we have that, and I would love to see a woman succeed in a presidential race.”
“Someone who’s honest, someone who has a strong moral code, someone who’s actually for the people [and] someone who wants to create a more equitable society,” Burrs said.
Q: Do you feel that those desired qualities are being represented on the ballot?
“I am unsatisfied with the candidates that we have now,” Lott said. “I think they’re old and white and male. And it’s a really big problem, and they’re not representing the people.”
“Not really, which is kind of sad,” Burrs said. “But I think, yeah, for this election, it’s really a matter of lesser of two evils.”