By CHLOE GRUSING
Editorial Editor
The year 2024 brings a big change for America; a new president will be determined in November.
A presidential race can cause citizens of the U.S. to raise many questions about who will be running, especially with the political climate as of late.
Joe Biden, the current president, is being questioned about his cognitive abilities and campaign promises that went unanswered. Donald Trump, the former president, is leading the polls and causing concern among his own party.
He is currently facing trial for his involvement in the January 6th Insurrection. Other candidates are little known or infamous for their controversies, and people feel scared of the new presidential candidate’s abilities.
Big political changes are happening in America, with tensions rising between party members.
Many voters display concerns regarding the candidates and their abilities to properly unite America.
Recently, the Iowa Caucus took place, which is a preliminary poll to recognize the leading candidates among each party.
The results of this poll showed that former President Donald Trump was massively ahead of his opponents. Trump’s victory in the polls was nothing short of a landslide.
Between the candidates running, Trump amassed 51% of the vote, with Ron DeSantis coming in second polling at 21%. Nikki Haley came in third with 19% of the vote and other competitors collected less than 8%.
As college students and eligible voters, we should pay attention to the presidential election in 2024.
It is important to vote and change the country for the better.
To better understand what the results of the Iowa caucus could mean for the upcoming election, I spoke to Dr. Aaron Mason, professor of political science at Northwestern.
The victory by Trump means it is unlikely for another candidate to take the lead, as the margins were very wide between Trump and DeSantis. Mason states the Iowa Caucus sets a tone for the general election, but anything is possible.
He explained that Trump is pulling ahead due to the uncertainty that is rising among voters.
People are hesitant to trust Biden because of his presidential achievements, and Trump has loyal voters.
It is important for people to get out and vote, especially young people.
I asked Mason why college students should vote and he advised me voting is important if a voter is well informed of which candidate they are voting for, if they are interested in voting at all.
Mason expressed the importance of choosing to support democracy and which leader you believe will be best suited to unify America.
The question I am left with is whether Trump will be present on every ballot, as our country needs a fair election.
Recently, Colorado has ruled to remove Trump from the presidential ballot for violating the 14th Amendment. This ruling is being reviewed by the Supreme Court to determine if this is fair.
Mason was able to tell me the 14th Amendment ruling is not a strong argument for Trump to be taken off.
The ruling Trump is off the ballot could also set a precedent for all parties to accuse one another of treason.
It is important to uphold the fairness of the courts and unify the country as best as possible for the people. I feel the Supreme Court will consider the importance of this decision and make a choice for the benefit of America.
The importance of being involved in upholding democracy is key to exercising your rights as an American citizen.
The next election will be a big one, determining how to resolve the conflict in Israel, possible COVID cases rising, and the task of unifying a divided country will be major tasks the next president needs to complete.
As college students, we should use our voices to pick who will best be suited for America. It is beyond important to address the worries you may have with research.
Before voting, one should be well informed of what their candidate’s platform is and if they fully support it. It is of the utmost importance for the country to unify and move forward with the new year.
A major election for Oklahoma is on March 5th known as Super Tuesday. This day is when many states hold their caucuses and primary elections.
If you are eligible to vote in the state of Oklahoma make sure to register at https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voter-registration/register-to-vote.html.
