California is (mostly) Democratic again
Reaction to the presidential race was mixed as voters left
the polls in California, where a contentious measure to ban the death penalty
in the state was also on the ballot.
“I voted for Barack Obama,” said Bonnie Mintun as she left
her polling place in mid-afternoon. “I think he’s just getting started and
deserves four more years to finish the job. As far as the death penalty goes, I
don’t believe in taking a life as punishment.”
Mintun’s voting sentiments were opposed, however, by
50-year-old John Parker, who admitted to being a bit more conservative than
many voters in his home state.
“The hard part for me is that I think our country is in
trouble right now and I don’t really like either candidate, but I generally
vote conservative, so I took Mitt Romney,” Parker said.
Citing his feeling that “there are many bad people in the
world” and that California’s prisons are overcrowded, Parker was confident in
his vote to retain the death penalty.
For Sonya Mogilner, the deciding issue in her vote for Obama
was healthcare. “I’m a health care professional and I think the Affordable Care
Act was necessary for our country,” noted Mogilner.
Shelley Westin, who showed up at the polling booth with four
young children in tow, said the overriding concern that gave her vote to Romney
was his different approach on healthcare.
California State Senator Lois Wolk was solidly in the Obama
camp, citing the President’s efforts to stimulate the economy, the auto
industry bailout and health care reform.
“I believe it’s time for the next generation to take over,”
Wolk said, “And he and his family represent that to me.”
No matter how they voted, however, to a person everyone
seemed pleased that the long election season was finally over.
“I’m very happy,” Mogilner said. “Now maybe I can watch some
different commercials on TV.” That sentiment was echoed by Mintun, who noted it
was “time to get back to work.”
Editor's Note: California was called for President Barack
Obama earlier tonight. Stay tuned to scholastic.com/election for full vote
counts.
—Kid Reporter Maev Dunning
