Some Feel Uncertain About Presidential Candidates

Charly Humpz moved to the U.S. five years ago after he won the immigration lottery. He will vote for the first time in the 2024 presidential election, and while he’s “quite thrilled” to be voting, he’s uncertain about the choices facing him.

“If the president changes during such a delicate period, there is no telling how the future of the war in Israel and Palestine will ever end or if it will get worse,” he said. He smiled as he continued the conversation. “I’ve been in the US for so long, it feels good to be able to vote and have my voice regarding the country that I live in,” he said. “I’m happy that I finally have this opportunity, I know way too many people that have been here for longer and don’t have this privilege.”

But Humpz and others we interviewed said the choice between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump still isn’t clear to them. They talked about their unfamiliarity with Harris. Humpz feels he doesn’t have enough information yet to make a good decision. “I’m not sure that Harris is gonna follow Biden’s plan and I’m not sure if I want her to,” he said. Humpz raised the question of uncertainty many feel.

They also fear a negative upheaval and that prices may rise even more. New Jersey-born Junior Baina, a 22-year-old senior at Rutgers University, pointed to rising prices at restaurants and the cost of food.  He said that the Colombian platter at Noches de Colombia, his favorite restaurant, now costs almost 25% more than it did last year without taxes or tip.

“I worry so much. The cost of living and interest rates. I’m afraid that with the new management there is gonna be an actual increase in taxation and the cost of the day-to-day expenses. Plus an increase in taxes that I personally have to pay from my paycheck,” he said.

Outside of the New York area, Ludovica Mazzani in Charlotte, North Carolina, sees a frightening rise of nationalism.

Ludovica Mazzani, Photo Courtesy Anna Vergolini.

She points to the insurrection on January 6th and is afraid it may happen again. “We have all seen what happened last time, now the nation needs unity not fear of street riots between neighbors,” she said. Then she explained that these elections are affecting her relationships with her family. She has been fighting almost everyday during the past year about their voting preferences. Her family doesn’t like the idea of her voting for Harris. “I can’t imagine what would happen in the streets if even father and daughter cannot coexist with a ‘political-enemy.’”

While they are not absolutely certain, in the end those we talked with said they are likely to vote for Kamala Harris because of the authoritarian tendencies of Donald Trump.