First-time voters are calling Harris, Trump

Across the country, about 42 million Gen Zers are eligible to vote, many of them for the first time. So what do they think about when they head to the polls? We spoke to young Connecticut voters to find out.

Some first-time voters in Connecticut said they were excited to vote for either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.

Sam Hardesty, 21, of West Hartford, is a geography and psychology major at Central Connecticut State University and a registered Democrat.

“I registered almost as soon as I turned 18 and have voted in local elections every year since then,” he said. “I voted in the presidential primaries, so I’m very excited to participate in our democracy in this way.”

Sarha Antonio, 20, a CCSU student and New Britain resident, said she will vote for Harris because of his stance on issues such as abortion rights and immigration.

She’s also excited about the possibility of Harris making history.

“I would vote for Kamala Harris because she is pro-choice and she would be the first woman president,” said Antonio, a Democrat. “He’s also a person of color, and that means a lot to me. And she’s better than Trump when it comes to immigration policy. She’s much more lenient with what she thinks about it compared to what Trump thinks about it.”

Dominick Lombardi, 21, a student at Fairfield University in Orange, said he would vote for Trump because of his economic policies.

“As a young student and a young American, my future revolves around financial independence,” Lombardi said. “He (Trump) believes the government should be out of your back and out of your pocket, and that for every new regulation imposed on the economy, ten old regulations should be eliminated by eliminating tip taxes.”

Marina Tonner, a CCSU student and Democrat, said she is voting for Harris because of his views on LGBTQ+ and women’s rights.

Marina Tonner, a CCSU student and Democrat, said she is voting for Harris because of his views on LGBTQ and women’s rights. Credit: Jahshua Hardy-Everett / Student at Central Connecticut State University / CT Community News

“LGBTQ+ rights matter to me because I’m part of the community,” Tonner said. “I have a lot of friends in the community, so I think LGBTQ+ rights are protected. Abortion rights are very important to me because I am a woman.”

Luke Collura, 20, said that while he doesn’t like either candidate, he will still vote.

“I think the right to vote is sacred and it’s a privilege more than a right,” said Collura, an independent. “I pledge to vote for the people who still cannot vote in this country and for my relatives and ancestors who have not been able to exercise that right in a democratic society.”

But Collura isn’t thrilled with his choices.

“In my opinion, the candidates running for this year are not strong,” Collura said.

For many students at Southern Connecticut State University, one reason prevails in their voting choice: character.

Saniah Wint, a junior communications major, is a member of the SCSU College Republicans. However, she said she would vote for Harris over Trump.

“I personally think it’s a better decision that aligns better with my ideas,” Wint said. “I think she represents a different message than Donald Trump. Personally, I think Donald Trump and the way he carries himself and the way he surrounds others is disrespectful.”

CJ Sheehy, a senior political science major, said that while policies are important, having a candidate who exemplifies the values they hold is especially important in this election cycle. Several students said that values such as respect and kindness were some of the biggest influences on their choice.

Sheehy also said Harris’ character is the most appealing, saying, “I’m looking at someone who will respect the rule of law, who will respect our institutions and put this country above their own interests. I see only one true candidate in this race who actually embodies those values that I hold dear.”

They are among about half of Gen Z voters who say their November presidential choice is Harris over Trump, according to a recent NBC News poll.

For other young voters, specific issues and policies influence their vote for Harris. Thomas Gilbertie, a senior marketing major, says he looks for ideas that align with his own when choosing a candidate.

“Tackling the housing crisis is an important thing for us young people. Along with climate change and health care, she is the best candidate for that,” Gilbertie said.

However, other young voters disagree that Harris is the best candidate. Nick Schettino, a math major, is president of the SCSU College Republicans. He says that ultimately his choice is influenced by politics and ideas.

Schettino said: “I am unhappy with both candidates, especially Kamala Harris. My main thing is that she didn’t do much politics. She doesn’t really talk about the policies she wants.”

A recent US News poll found that 70 percent of Gen Z voters feel inflation and the cost of living is a top priority. Other key issues include gun reform, access to abortion, immigration and climate change.

Gilbertie, who is also the president of SCSU’s Democratic College, strongly believes that Harris is best suited to address these issues and disagrees with Schettino’s assessment.

“I encourage anyone to look into her economic policies,” Gilbertie said. “And I would encourage everyone to do their own research and make a good decision.”

Eary Banushi, Benjamin Daddio, Jahshua Hardy-Everett, Elijah Hernandez and Deanna Prescott contributed to this story.

Chike Onyiuke is a student at Central Connecticut State University and Avery Martin is a student at Southern Connecticut State University. This story is republished by CT Community Newsa service of the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative, an organization sponsored by journalism departments on college and university campuses across the state.