By Lillian Lewis and Nicky Taylor
On March 5 North Carolinians went to the polls to cast their ballot for their elected officials. American citizens can vote for who will serve as the president in the general election.
The primary differs from the general election as it decides who will appear on the final ballot.
Recently Gen Z voters are considered one of the most politically active generations. According to Tufts College, Gen Z voted more in 2022 than Gen Xers and millennials did when they made up the 18-24-year-old voting bloc.
At William Peace University, many students are eager to support this statistic.
“Once I’m registered, I’ll be voting,” said first-year criminal justice and political science major Olivia Lubak.
The two most popular candidates have both previously served a presidential term. Caleb Hussman, a political science professor at William Peace University says defining how these candidates are running is important to chart their success.
“Do we classify him [Trump] as being an incumbent or not? Because that matters a ton.” said Hussman “If we want to get a good idea of how well he’s doing, if we classify him as an incumbent, then he’s doing kind of crappy. If we classify him not as an incumbent, then he’s doing great.”
An incumbent in an election according to Ballotpedia is a candidate for political office who currently holds the office being sought. Historically incumbent presidents have won re-election. Before Trump’s loss in 2020, the last incumbent to lose re-election was George H.W. Bush in 1992.
The front-runner for the Democratic party is Joe Biden, who is running for re-election. Other Democratic candidates on the ballot will be Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips, both write-in candidates.
The front-runner for the Republican party is Donald Trump, who is running for a second term after holding office as President of the United States following the 2016 election. Another Republican candidate on the ballot is Nikki Haley.
Hailey is the former Governor of South Carolina and has now made history. Hailey has become the first woman to win a Republican primary in US history, the first woman to run against a former president as a major party candidate, and the first Indian American presidential candidate to make it to Super Tuesday.
Hussman says one of Hailey’s talents is her way of speaking about controversial topics such as abortion.
“If I’m a Republican, Nikki Haley probably has the best strategy to talk about the things that you can actually change,” said Hussman
Former President Donald Trump still beat competitor Nikki Haley earning 1059 delegates overall in the US and 62 in North Carolina.
Two Independents running outside the traditional parties are Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West.
Biden’s central campaign policies are listed on his website and highlight criminal justice reform, building the Affordable Care Act, and keeping immigrant families together.
Trump’s campaign focus is getting more jobs for the working class, eliminating China from American trade, and tightening security on the southern border.
Most Gen Z voters expect common values from the presidential candidates.
Lubak says she would like to see a candidate who is “reliable; of sound mind and body … Well educated on not only statistical things about political theory but also international relations.”
Students at Peace of all ages are considerate of what they want from the next President.
“I would say representation is important to me,” said first-year Travis Evans, “I want, obviously, the person who I’m voting for to share [my] beliefs.”
Not all students, though, are apt to see the current candidates as the next President of the United States.
“I’m still doing my research and playing it day by day,” said Evans, “So, I don’t really have one in mind.”
This sentiment is echoed across all years of students at Peace.
“Neither of the two big candidates seems a right fit,” said Harrison Oakley Garcia, a first-year theater major and political science minor.
Some students pick a candidate based on something other than values.
“I’m not too big into politics,” said Jonathan Quinn, a first-year student at peace, “whoever is the funniest has my vote.”
Even though students at Peace have mixed feelings about the election, some students still believe in submitting a ballot. James “Seamus” Shaughnessy is one of those students.
“I urge everyone to participate in the process, even if only by submitting a blank or partial ballot. No one is pressuring you to pick a candidate,” said Shaughnessy
Every voter in North Carolina must register to vote before March 5, be 18 years old on or before election day, and show proof of ID upon entering the voting center. You must have lived in your registered county for six months to vote in its designated voting center.
Showing your ID at the polls is a new requirement in North Carolina. This was the first election voters were required to show ID when getting their ballot.
Shaughnessy described the new process as redundant and uncomfortable.
“The process felt familiar, mirroring previous experiences,” said Shaughnessy “However, the addition of presenting an ID seemed redundant. Sharing personal details aloud felt uncomfortable, particularly when it was already on the ID.”
The presidential primaries were not the only thing on North Carolinian’s ballots this year. Because it was what’s referred to as a Super Tuesday, positions such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor State Treasurer, and more were on the 2024 North Carolina ballot.
Since Governor Cooper will not be running for re-election this year, both parties are working to become governor of North Carolina. The primary winners this year were Mark Robinson and Josh Stein.
Mark Robinson is the current Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina and a former factory worker. He is currently endorsed by former President Trump and has been criticized for his stance on issues such as abortion.
He is also known for his strong opinions, publicly stating that the Civil Rights Movement was “crap” and describing Martin Luther King Jr. as a communist. He has also stated that he would like to return to a time when women cannot vote and has suggested that 9/11 was an inside job.
In Robinson’s victory speech, he stated his focus if he won would be education and the economy. If Robinson won he would be North Carolina’s first black Governor.
His competitor Stein is the current attorney general of North Carolina. One accomplishment he’s recognized for is securing more than $50 billion nationally to bring opioid addiction treatment and recovery services to people across North Carolina. If Stien were to win he would be North Carolina’s first Jewish Governor.