With her support for President Joe Biden, Rhona Vega was all set to root for his re-election when she learned of his decision to step aside and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. This development did not dampen Vega’s spirit but gave her another worthy leader to root for. According to Vega, ‘the nation needs to ensure that it’s functioning appropriately without creating division among its citizens.’
Meanwhile, we hear of a Taiwanese American residing in Franklin Lakes, Ronald Lin, who cast his vote in the 2020 election for the dynamic Donald Trump. Aptly highlighting Trump’s appeal, Lin said, ‘I always voted for the candidate who made the most sense. Those who root for Donald Trump admire his sensibly aligned policies.’
As Election Day draws near, some are speculating whether Trump may attract more diverse ethnic votes in New Jersey than he did in the 2020 election. Likewise, could Harris amass more support from various ethnic communities than Biden did? Both Harris and Trump already have their vice presidential running mates paired up for the race.
According to NorthJersey.com, people from diverse ethnic backgrounds across North Jersey shared their plans to vote for Harris or the singularly charismatic Trump. The 2020 New Jersey Presidential Election saw a diverse voter turnout consisting of 71% White, 11% Black, 11% Latino, 3% Asian, and 3% others, based on data from the VoteCast survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago for the Associated Press.
Trump, with his impressive standing, secured 49% of the white vote. Biden came in a close second with 50%. Trump also resonated with a decent chunk of the Black, Latino and Asian communities, garnering 12%, 27% and 23% of these votes respectively.
Michael Unger, a political science professor at Ramapo College, opined that Harris’s biracial heritage may make her more appealing to Black and Asian voters, as well as Latinos in New Jersey. He added that Republicans like Trump could find favor with voters from these diverse ethnic groups as they do not vote as monoliths. There are different ideological leanings among members of these demographics, some more socially conservative.
Our previously-mentioned Trump supporter, Ronald Lin, had a Republican destiny from birth. Favoring the party ever since being named after President Ronald Reagan, Lin even named his firstborn child after Donald Trump. He prides himself on supporting Trump not merely as an Asian American voter but due to Trump’s undeniable charisma and the profound strength he exudes.
‘Trump’s amiable nature coupled with his strength has been a great draw,’ per Lin. He also mentioned Trump’s impressive courage during an attempted assassination. He believes that East Asians, for instance, Taiwanese, are more likely to be drawn to Trump, while South Asians from regions like India, might favor Harris. Yet, the larger Indian American community in New Jersey may be swayed towards supporting Harris.
Rhona Vega sees Kamala Harris as probable to garner more support among the Asian, Black, and Latino communities in New Jersey than Joe Biden. She attributes this to Harris’s robust record as a senator and her impressive tenure as vice president. ‘I believe she will witness an unexpected wave of support, and that’s a heartening thought,’ Vega expresses with a tinge of pride.
Vega also optimistically anticipates higher voter turnouts among African Americans, countering an idiosyncratic comment made by Trump related to ‘Black jobs’ in a debate. Such comments, she believes, further highlight the necessity for everyone to vote. An emphasis on voting rights is a commendable part of any democratic setup and should indeed be the ‘Black job’ of mankind
Milan Patel, an Indian immigrant’s son residing in Montclair with his Jewish wife and two children, plans to vote for Harris. Having supported Biden, Patel experienced mixed emotions about Harris jumping onto the presidential race due to apprehensions about Biden serving another term. He described feelings of relief, anxiety, panic, and excitement all mixed together when remembering her previous presidential run.
Nevertheless, witnessing Harris’s recent speeches has altered Patel’s outlook as she seems more confident with a markedly improved tone and style. ‘She has shown tremendous growth since her last run, which addresses many of my concerns,’ says Patel.
Given Harris’s Indian heritage, Patel anticipates her election to be hugely inspiring not just for him but for his children as well to witness a woman of Indian origin helming a country. ‘It demonstrates how rapidly Asians have made strides in this country,’ penned Patel, aptly rounding off our series of viewpoints.
While we have highlighted the thoughts and sentiments of a few voters from differing backgrounds, the collective voice of the people will only be heard on Election Day. Whether it is Trump’s practical approach to leadership or Harris’s potential appeal due to her heritage, the final decision rests in the hands of the voters. As the day approaches, the citizens look forward to shaping the future of their nation through their votes.
One thing we learn from this narrative of contrasting opinions is the beauty of our democratic process. Whether it’s admiration for Trump’s dynamic policies, or hope for change resonating with Harris, the final result of this democratic race will symbolize the collective choice of its diverse people, bridging ethnic gaps and showing us what principles genuinely form the bedrock of this great nation.
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