Nineteen Annenberg Media reporters asked California voters casting ballots in Los Angeles a series of questions to get a sense of the electorate’s mood on Election Day. They asked the voters where they are from, what they do for a living, to describe the election in one word and who they chose in the presidential race: Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.
Their answers are below.
Brian Hernandez
Age: 22
Neighborhood/city: Inglewood
Occupation: Student studying nursing at Mt. Saint Mary University
One word to describe the elections: Divisive
Presidential choice: Harris
“I feel like people are very black and white instead of being open-minded.”
— Jinge Li
Peter Mayor
Age: 24
Occupation: Graduate student
One word to describe the elections: Life-changing
Presidential choice: Harris
“If Trump gets elected they are going to get in more judges into the Supreme Court and have way more laws against common people.”
— Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan
Gloria Roca
Age: 32
Neighborhood/city: Exposition Park
Occupation: Poll worker
One word to describe the elections: Tumultuous
Presidential choice: Harris
“Harris is the only qualified candidate in the race. People have strong opinions on both sides, but the other side is more divisive.”
— Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan
David Bolano
Age: 47
Neighborhood/city: South L.A.
Occupation: Maintenance and Operations for LAUSD
One word to describe the elections: Confusing
Presidential choice: Harris
“We need a different type of president, and a female maybe will change things up.”
— Siara Carpenter
Dulce Sanchez
Age: 27
Occupation: Social worker
Neighborhood/city: L.A.
One word to describe the elections: Stressful
Presidential choice: Harris
Sanchez voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and “Yes” on Proposition 33 regarding rent control.
“A lot of my friends that are either Asian or African American, I realized how much [racism] was affecting them. It just made me realize how much changed after Donald Trump became president.”
– Jarrett Carpenter
Isaac Schaffer
Occupation: USC master’s student studying gerontology
One word to describe the elections: Important
Presidential choice: Harris
“I’m actually not as aware of what else is on the ballot [locally], so I’m going to show up, and I’m going to read it.”
— Laya Albert
Florentino
Age: 30
Neighborhood/city: South L.A.
Occupation: Actor
One word to describe the elections: Stressful
Presidential choice: Harris
“The rent is wild, and that’s something everyone here is worried about,” Florentino said. “The price of groceries is making it hard for regular people to have a full fridge.”
— Hali Mecklin
Karmen Booker
Age: 34
Occupation: HR representative at Target
Neighborhood/city: L.A.
One word to describe the elections: Complicated
Presidential choice: Harris
Booker has always voted Democratic and voted “Yes” on Proposition 3 to express support for same-sex marriage.
“I was really happy about codifying the marriage equality language into the [California] Constitution.”
– Jarrett Carpenter
Henry Perry-Friedman
Age: 22
Neighborhood/city: University Park
Occupation: USC student studying computer science
One word to describe the elections: A blast
Presidential choice: Harris
“I mean, she’s an okay candidate, but it’s just a matter of looking at what the alternative would be.”
— Yana Savitsky
Elias Corona
Age: 69
Neighborhood/city: Los Angeles
Occupation: Retired
One word to describe the elections: Confusing
Presidential choice: Trump
“I vote for this gentleman because I like the way he did in the past.”
— Samira Felix
Michael “Louie” Louiallier
Age: 62
Neighborhood/city: West Adams
Occupation: Handyman
One word to describe the elections: Dangerous
Presidential choice: Harris
Louiallier is a lifelong Democrat and voted for George Gascón to remain District Attorney.
“There’s a lot of people on both sides who are angry about Gascón… I hope there are enough decent people to keep our progress going.”
— Matthew Royer
Martha Rosales
Age: 83
Neighborhood/city: Los Angeles
Occupation: Era una trabajadora doméstica (domestic worker)
Presidential choice: Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Muchas personas son nerviosas con que va a pasar.” (“Many people are nervous with what is going to happen).”
— Jason Goode
Note: Interview conducted in Spanish.
Drew Quall
Age: 22
Neighborhood/city: Fresno
Occupation: Commercial real estate
One word to describe the elections: Controversial
Presidential choice: Trump
Quall voted “Yes” on Proposition 2 to authorize bonds to improve public schools.
— Cierra Morgan
Bryan Hernandez
Age: 22
Neighborhood/city: Inglewood
Occupation: Student
One word to describe the elections: Divisive
Presidential choice: Harris
Cassandra Martinez
Neighborhood/city: Glendale
Occupation: Student
One word to describe the elections: Scary
Presidential choice: Harris
“I agree with her views more, and I come from an immigrant family. As a woman, I also just want women to have bodily autonomy.”
— Payton May
Brandi Polk
Age: 49
Neighborhood/city: Los Angeles
One word to describe the elections: Chaotic
Presidential choice: Harris
— Samuel Spitz
Santiago Gavidia
Age: 26
Neighborhood/city: Silverlake
Occupation: Actor
One word to describe the elections: Chaotic/Hopeful/Scary
Presidential choice: Harris
Wants to increase the minimum wage and see “more protection for unhoused people and more affordable housing.”
“I’ve actually been away from the U.S. for almost the whole [presidential race], so I haven’t been hearing too much, but I like to think it’s hopeful but also scary.”
— Alicia Alvarez
Jade Morti
Age: 31
Neighborhood/city: San Pedro
One word to describe the elections: Spiritual
Presidential Choice: Trump
“I believe he can make a difference.”
— Tatiana Sataua
Alex Fofana
Age: 27
Neighborhood/city: University Park
Occupation: Makeup artist
One word to describe the elections: Represented
Presidential choice: Harris
“Young people need to vote; she represents more than minorities.”
— Isobel Smith
William Menendez (seen with his son)
Age: 40
Neighborhood/city: South L.A.
Occupation: Security guard at Kaiser
One word to describe the elections: Interesting
Presidential choice: Trump
“The government should stay away from morals from the Bible.”
— Sana Mahmud
Monica C.
Age: 34
Neighborhood/city: Exposition Park
One word to describe the elections: Divisive
Presidential choice: Harris
“I think [Harris] represents my beliefs. She stands for LGBTQ+ rights, the Latino community, and my rights as a woman… I don’t want to live in fear.”
— Vincent Demonte
Willis Belton
Age: 75
Neighborhood/city: South L.A.
Occupation: Retired from Santa Monica City College
One word to describe the elections: Very important
Presidential choice: Harris
“How do other countries feel about the image that this country has projected with the war, the economics, the politics?... I wonder how they view us, even in the eyes of the Lord, as far as God is concerned.”
— Hali Mecklin
Pablo Gutierrez
Age: 26
Neighborhood/city: Glendale
Occupation: Math teacher
One word to describe the elections: Terrifying
Presidential choice: Harris
Gutierrez voted “Yes” on Proposition 2, which authorizes bonds for public schools.
“I voted for Hillary and Harris for the same reason – it is exciting to have a woman president.”
— Parkin So