TAMUK encourages voting
The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and university students are studying up on the two main candidates.
This will be the 60th presidential election held in the history of the United States. The two main presidential candidates leading the race in the ballot are Kamala Harris (D) and Donald Trump (R).
“This year’s election is very important. Not only the students, but the whole community should get out there and vote to get their voices heard on the issues that matter,” Juan Sanchez, an agricultural science major, said.
The Democratic Party candidate, and current U.S. Vice President, Harris is being backed by vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Harris announced Walz as her vice-presidential nominee on Aug. 6. Harris became the 49th Vice President of the United States in January 2021. Harris won the 2024 Democratic nomination after incumbent U.S. President Joe Biden ultimately chose to withdraw from the race.
The Harris campaign is running in favor of supporting labor unions, paid family leave, affordable healthcare and reducing child poverty. Harris has also mentioned endorsing lowering drug costs and providing tax credits to middle-class and lower-income families.
The Republican Party candidate is former U.S. President Trump, who became the 45th president of the United States in January 2017. Trump declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on Nov. 15, 2022.
Trump selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance to accompany him as his vice-presidential running mate on July 15. In December 2019, Trump became the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.
Trump has stated that some of the key issues for his campaign include cutting taxes, implementing tariffs, in-vitro fertilization and negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine War. Trump has also proposed that he would overhaul key factions of the federal government, slash social safety net programs and vowed retribution against his political opponents.
“I feel that students our age should pay more attention and follow politics. This election is what is going to shape our future,” said Lisa Martinez, a music major student.
Voter polls are suggesting that this election will be a very close race.
The winner of the election will be sworn into office and inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Early voting in Texas begins Oct. 21 and ends Nov. 1.