Following a long night anxiously watching our screens, awaiting the results of the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday afternoon was eerily quiet on the Sonoma State campus.
It’s been nearly two years since Donald J. Trump announced his campaign for the 2024 presidency. The eventful and oftentimes contentious race included Trump being convicted of multiple felonies, an attempted assassination at one of his rallies, Biden renouncing his campaign for re-election, and Kamala Harris taking the Democratic ticket. Early Wednesday morning concluded the race in a win for President Trump.
Gender equality was a prevalent topic of discussion in this election season, as many recall the familiarity of Trump winning against Hillary Clinton in 2016.
SSU Women and Gender Studies professor, Charlene Tung said, “From an intersectional feminist perspective, this outcome was not unexpected. The intersection of race and gender was all over this race. There are numerous reasons why Harris and Trump won. And no doubt, this will be dissected by pundits for weeks.”
“But ultimately, no reason escapes the lens of race and gender. Those constructs impact how we view candidates, our definitions of a ‘good leader’—economically and socially— whether we ‘believe’ someone can garner money and support to win, and simply whether we are drawn toward, or repelled by, a candidate. Is this country ready for, or willing to have, a woman of color as president? That’s a very real question. And we got one answer yesterday.”
For some, Tuesday night was an exciting evening. For others, it felt like witnessing a nightmare unfold. Election stress has impacted many of us on all sides of this historic event.
The community at Sonoma State weighed in on their thoughts and feelings about the presidential results and how the political climate has impacted them. Many on campus echoed similar sentiments.
Diana Chavez, a second-year early childhood studies major said she wasn’t able to vote in time, but if she had, she would have voted for Harris, for her position on helping low-income families.
“A lot of people are talking about how they didn’t want to vote for Trump because of his priors, but I mean he has good points. He wants to lower the taxes and if you get tips, he’ll take them off your paycheck. But I would agree more with what Harris has to say,” she said.
Chavez explained that her parents are Salvadorian, and she recalled a statement Trump had made. “He was talking about how Salvadorians shouldn’t come to the U.S. because they’re ‘bad influences.’ I feel like he is very racist, and I feel like he shouldn’t have to deport people from here when they clearly pay taxes.”
“I hope four years pass fast, because after that, he won’t have a chance anymore. What’s done is done I guess,” Chavez continued.
“I’m worried because of my parents, and my boyfriend is also from over there. He fears that something is going to happen. But I mean, my parents have been here for more than 20 years. I do fear that if they leave, what are me and my sister going to do? But there’s not really much we can do.”
Nat Jaime, a first-year biology major said they are feeling fearful about the outcome of the election. “I mean I’m a trans person of color, so who knows what’s going to happen next.”
“Especially because it’s the first election I got to vote in,” Jaime continued. “Me and my friends, we all did our part, but I think we all kind of knew where it was going to end up. I’m definitely worried about if I’m going to be able to still express myself in the way I want and need to, because the idea of going back into the closet just to stay alive… it’s not a reassuring feeling. It’s terrifying.”
“Even though we’re in California, and everyone’s telling me ‘you’ll be fine,’ I have family in red states and I’m worried about them. I’m worried about what could happen to them or if I want to go visit them or be with them, what’s going to happen to me? I just think that so many people are being affected and will be affected in ways that they may not have expected when they were going in, making their decision. I just hope it’s not as worst-case-scenario as everyone’s feeling right now,” Jaime said.
Joseph Mosqueda, a third-year political science major and sociology minor said, “I kind of saw it coming, I’m not gonna lie.”
“I wasn’t confident that Kamala was going to win, and I’m not happy with either candidate anyways. I feel like I was going to feel the same way depending on whoever won anyways. I am disappointed though. I’m just as worried as other people who did not want Trump to win. And I’m scared, coming from a family of immigrants as well,” Mosqueda continued.
Mosqueda expressed some comfort for living in California, and still acknowledged worry for family members in and outside of the state. “I’m scared but I’m also not severely depressed or severely saddened by it. I saw it coming.”
Mosqueda said despite seeing a therapist, he still worries the political climate will negatively impact his mental health. “But I do recognize that with the help that I have, with the services that we have here on campus as well, that I can manage it, and I’m confident that I won’t drop to a level to where I will leave my studies behind or anything like that. I feel like I can get through it, and I know we all can. It’s just making sure that we can all take care of each other and take care of ourselves as well,” Mosqeuda continued.
Professor Tung acknowledged this reality of fear for many demographics both within the Sonoma State community and the country at large.
“I think if you identify as LGBTQIA+, a woman, BIPOC, or any combination thereof, this outcome has very real impacts in terms of subsequent policies we will see coming out of his administration. And this can play out negatively in terms of one’s mental health and sense of well-being and actual safety. The documented rhetoric and harmful language that has come through President Trump’s campaign, does real harm. Threats to deport undocumented persons silences and puts fear into members of our SSU community, and beyond. Anti-trans policies and abortion bans— both reproductive rights issues— strike fear in members of our SSU community,” Tung said.
A third-year computer science major who requested to remain anonymous, said he felt disappointed with the result, but also saw it coming. He said he does not feel his mental health has been seriously impacted throughout the election. “But I also think I have a lot less stake in this election than most people do, considering a lot of stuff that would affect most people probably isn’t going to affect me.”
He noted some worry about the economy, and explained that was the main aspect of the election he felt may impact him. “I know the whole tariff plan is probably going to end really poorly, and almost all that cost is going to get passed down to the consumer, and I think if anything, that’s just going to make stuff even more expensive.”
“It is what it is, I guess. But I also know that I’m in kind of a special spot to be able to say that, and for most people it’s more than that,” he continued.
Mark Diaz, a fourth-year applied mathematics major said, “When I think about it, it bums me out. But I’ve had no time to think about it, because I do a lot of math homework and we have math exams this week. So I don’t know, right now I’m not really worried about it because it’s not directly impacting my life. I know it’ll have some effect on my future, and the future of my family and everything, which is unfortunate. And for a lot of American citizens. But I don’t have enough time to think about it.”
He noted that the election has not caused him too much stress, as he focuses his efforts on what he has control of in his life. “This time around, I kind of knew what to expect after 2020. I saw the hate sort of build up with the internet. It’s sort of a game that if you choose to play, then you’ll feel the effects, but if you just kind of do your own thing, it doesn’t really affect you as much. Voting and doing what I can, but beyond that, some of these things, as much as we have some part in it, it’s out of our control so it sort of doesn’t make sense to give it as much thought.”
Luis Galvez Diaz, a fourth-year computer science major said he voted for Harris, but he said he tries to make an effort to consider both sides of the political spectrum. “I’m never satisfied with the candidates of the election. I’m always frustrated that we can’t get someone who’s like an economist, or someone who’s a little bit more, maybe more honest, more truthful and a little bit more of someone we want, not just someone who is running and we have no other options. It seems like the only two options we had is Kamala and Trump. I wish we could choose a better candidate, that doesn’t get easily influenced over other things. Or they’re bribed, or something of that sort, or their incentives are just malicious.”
“I wouldn’t say they’re both entirely malicious, maybe it’s just me being a skeptic with any candidate. Just over time, we’ve seen where they swing one way or the other, they both are easily influenced by large corporations or people in power to tell them what to do, for money or other incentives,” Galvez Diaz continued.
Overall, Galvez Diaz said he’s feeling slightly uneasy, “and more hopeful… hopefully one day maybe we’ll get someone a little better.”
Elario Ornelas, a third-year mathematics major, said he’s “Not excited, not thrilled. I’m kind of neutral about it. I kind of stopped caring about politics a while ago. It’s just ridiculous that this guy became our president. Whether or not you like him, it’s just like really? We picked this dude? It feels like a South Park episode, but just not a funny one. It’s just such a bizarre situation, that I’m kind of bewildered. You kind of just have to step back and look at it and be like, ‘wow, this is where we are.’ It’s shocking.”
Ornelas said he has never voted, and he explained why. “I don’t think I ever will. I kind of have a pessimistic view about it I think. It doesn’t really matter who we vote in, they’re all a bunch of rich people that just don’t care about us. They make the deals behind closed doors, they don’t care for us. They pretend they do. Maybe we have politicians that genuinely care, but just looking at both candidates I was like ‘I don’t like either of them.’”
He explained he doesn’t allow politics to affect his mental health, but rather, he focuses on the tasks at hand— like upcoming math exams. “I just feel like I don’t have the capability of making an impact in the political world. I’m just a student, what can I do, what can my voice do?”
Tung expressed her own thoughts and emotions post-election. “I am disappointed, but not demoralized. I actually am feeling re-energized to dig in and continue the work we do in WGS everyday— and that is educating about gender, race, class, sexuality, and creating dialogues to bring about a more just and equitable society. Social activist YK Hong posted today, ‘You have the most power right now, when you feel you have the least.’ I resonate with that.”
Tung shared some useful solutions for us all as we continue to move through this emotionally taxing time in our nation’s history. “Feel what you need to feel— anger, fear, despair, whatever. Cry if that’s welling up, scream if you need to, stomp around, get it out. Be in community with others who feel similarly. Don’t isolate yourself. There are so many out here who feel ilarly and are ready to hold space for the range of emotions. And then I invite students to dive back in and do the work necessary for a different outcome.”
