What follows is a collection of voices from The Headlight Editorial Board in response to the 2024 election results. Since it is a collection of voices, the writer will be identified each time the narration switches at the beginning of the paragraph. We hope this collection of opinions allows you to process the reality of the future and reminds you to connect with those close to you.
(Lauren) The fall and crash didn’t hurt any less — even after mentally preparing myself for the result I didn’t want the previous night. On the evening of Nov. 5, 2024, I looked at the numbers and felt a pit in my stomach from knowing what those numbers meant. I woke up the next morning, seeing what I already knew. Donald Trump became the president-elect.
(Anna) I still remember the last time Donald Trump was elected president. I had come home from dance and the TV was on, and we were atypically eating dinner in the living room to watch the updates. As a young girl, I was so excited to see a president who looked like me, and even at such a young age, I understood how important that representation was.
Eight years later, I am still waiting for my madam president.
The morning of Nov. 5, 2024, I woke up with the weight of my future sitting on my chest. As the day progressed, my hopes for the election outcomes increased, and I was excitedly awaiting Harris’s announced presidency.
How wrong I was.
When the polls began to close on the East Coast, reality began to sink in, even though it was early in the night. I went to dance and everyone was still hopeful; “She still has a chance, the West Coast hasn’t been announced yet.” This didn’t ease the dread building in my stomach, and as the evening stretched on it felt as if I was reliving the events of eight years prior. That night I cried to myself to sleep, knowing that I was going to have to wait at least four more years to see my representation.
(Malia) My little sister is seven, just one year younger than I was when Trump was first elected in 2016. Somehow, this feels impossible. I remember the dread and the fear I felt then, the same as now. Naturally, I didn’t know much about politics or what exactly it would mean for me, but I did understand the tears in my mom’s eyes and fear I saw in those around me. In my eight year-old mind, I thought that meant the end of the world.
That feeling faded quickly, as I was a kid and didn’t follow the news, so it seemed nothing too bad was happening. Still, I can’t imagine my little sister being aware of this like I was. She still seems so young and untouched by the world, and it feels like a failure to know that isn’t reality. There’s always been a natural instinct to protect her, but the harsh truth is I’ll never be able to save her from whatever happens. This time around I’m aware of all the terrifyingly possible, devastating consequences for women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, America and the world as a whole.
Eight years later, I’m in the same place, feeling like it’s the end of the world and there’s nothing I can do.
(Eloise) It frightens me that the people in my country re-elected a man who has built his platform on control, discrimination and hate. They chose all that, instead of a qualified, uplifting woman.
I couldn’t vote in this election and wish I could have. Even though I live in a strong blue state, I still wish that I could have done something, anything, to have a part in this fight. I wanted a voice, and all of a sudden I was thrown back to 2016, and felt the same. I was helpless against what I was seeing on election night. I turned back into the scared eight-year-old girl staring at the map, watching the states turn red.
(Maryam) I am not yet 18 and was stuck with the feeling of helplessness. Seeing the electoral votes slowly go up through the night of Nov. 5 made me feel a sense of dread for our future and those who fought in the past. The whole night I had my sister by my side, but it was a small reminder from 2016 when I first felt rejected from my own country.
She’s only eight — I was around that age when Trump was elected for the first time, and all I wondered was if my country hated someone like me because they voted for someone who openly said disgusting things about people like me. Being a young Muslim girl of color, I suddenly felt terrible in my skin and body, and I feared what would happen to my family and those who had similar backgrounds. I might’ve not fully understood what was happening, but that is no fear or thought a child should have. I can’t imagine how that young girl would feel if she found out that he became the president again.
It’s scary and heart-wrenching to know that our president-elect is not only a convicted felon, but also a person who pushes the agenda of xenophobia and racism in a country that has forever struggled with this issue. It’s a basic human right to feel safe, and even in the first-world country of the United States, we have failed to make people feel that way.
(Anna) Trump has already announced several plans including, but not limited to, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, firing Jack Smith, increasing border presence and regulations, ending the Russian and Ukrainian war and reversing changes made to Title X by Biden.
As someone who does not agree with these plans, I’ve been feeling more helpless than ever before. The Republican party has complete control — the majority in the Senate and the House, and control over the Supreme Court. It feels as if I have no control, as if my vote didn’t count; even though I know that isn’t the case.
I can’t imagine not having the power to vote in this election. At age 18 I could. Even with the unfair electoral college, a vote still represents power. It is easy to think of Oregon as a “blue state,” yet it is just the metropolitan areas that are blue. The majority of the state is rural and “red.”
In Oregon Kamala Harris won 55.6% of the votes, giving her the state’s eight electoral votes, yet this win comes only from the urban areas of the state. This trend is not unique to Oregon, with most metropolitan areas being more democratic than their rural counterparts.
Nationally Trump won exactly 50% of the popular vote; to me this is a slap in the face.
I will not dislike or judge someone based solely on their political alignment; however, I will on an individual’s opinions of what should and shouldn’t be considered basic human rights — and Trump’s stances on these basic human rights are the epitome of what I deem morally wrong. There is a graphic in “The New York Times’” coverage of the election, showing the shift in the presidential race’s vote margins. Overall the nation has shifted to become more Republican. This shift disappoints me not because it is to the Republican party, but because it is a shift towards Trump.
(Malia) Over 75 million people voted for Trump. As much as they may claim it’s not, this feels like a personal act of violence. It’s clearer than ever from this election that the U.S. is pitted against me and people like me. I know I am not alone in feeling this way, the results of this election is an unforgivable betrayal. Politics has always been personal, anything that has the power to change millions of lives at such a drastic scale is.
(Lauren) Nov. 6, 2024, was a day of deep disillusionment and mourning. Living in a liberal area like SW Portland made the results harder to come to terms with. Yes, I was surrounded by a beautiful community of support and hope, but this also created a cocoon that sheltered me for what was to come. When the results came in on Nov. 6, that cocoon burst spectacularly and the true, harsh reality came crashing down. I mourned for all the women. All the students. The LGBTQ+ community. Our planet. For all the rest.
After moving through my grief, I soon came to realize that no matter the election results, my commitment to advocacy and the fight for justice and change does not waver. “Sometimes the fight takes a while, but that doesn’t mean we won’t win,” said Kamala Harris. I take this to heart.
To America, the biggest punch to the gut was that the majority of you elected a white male, who is a convicted felon with a racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic past and present over a more-than-qualified woman of color, with an inclusive, joyful character and vision for America. We were not ready for a female president, again, and we chose hate over love. That hurts more than anything Trump could and will do.
Trump’s promised policies are a whole other story. Trump has made many promises that are threats, such, plans to defund the Department of Education and use the U.S. military against citizens for example. His history of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, supporting a national abortion ban (although his stance is unclear and changes often), and killing policies that help combat climate change are all the more problematic as well.
(Eloise) It hurt to watch my rights be debated on a screen, thrown into the air like big hypotheticals. My basic human rights should not be something that needs contemplating or consideration; it should be an obvious given.
I was disgusted at the appalling words coming out of people’s mouths, even more so after the election. There are people in our country who identify with the values that Trump embodies, people who now feel that they have power and authority over others due to the policies Trump plans to implement and the behavior he encourages.
It scares me that this man, who I consider to be one of the most vile human beings to exist on this planet, was elected by the people of our country. He has spent his career trying to keep the American people afraid, separated and chaotic. It is the president’s responsibility to make the people in this country feel safe, heard and supported. Trump does not care about and will not fight for America.
The fact that he won reveals the broken nature of America.
(Malia) It’s been two weeks since Trump was elected and it still feels like a joke.
As someone who identifies as lesbian, I’m terrified. Terrified I might not have the choice to marry who I want, terrified for all the LGBTQ+ kids and teens in school who will suffer due to legislation like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and scared for the community as a whole.
I’ve never felt more useless in the course of my future and the world’s future. What Trump plans to do, pulling out of the Paris Agreement, will have irreversible and detrimental effects on the entire planet.
(Anna) I am concerned about the implications of Trump’s choices while in office but most directly relating to me is reproductive rights, climate change and LGBTQ+ rights. I currently live in a state that has fairly liberal policies regarding these issues. Although there is always room to grow, I feel that even under Trump’s reign, these rights will remain protected. Next year I will be in college, potentially not living in Oregon. The fact that I now have to base my college decision on academic, community fit and the rights that I will be allowed is outrageous to me.
For so long women’s health and pain have been denied. Roe v. Wade was a glimmer of hope and a small amount of security — but since it’s overturn, the restrictions that are continuously put in place are a constant reminder and slap to the face that my body, the female body, will always be more valued than who we are and what we have to offer as individual people.
(Eloise) What about the climate issues? Our world has six years until our global temperature reaches +1.5°C. When this happens humans will have emitted enough greenhouse gasses to cause irreversible damage and devastating climate destruction. It will make it extensively more difficult to reverse the effects of global warming.
Trump has promised to stop federal climate action once he becomes president.
(Anna) For centuries we have taken from the environment giving little thought to the implications of our actions. Now we are living in an age where these choices are affecting us. No matter how hard someone may try it is impossible to deny the effects and lived reality of climate change. This is the future I have to live in and future generations have to adapt to.
Approximately three decades ago, the first legislation regarding climate change was passed. Progress and recognition have been slow, but the movement and efforts are finally beginning to get traction: shifts to renewable energy, efforts to heal the ozone layer and investments in research to break down plastic. Yet with Trump in office, it feels as if any progress made will be reversed.
(Maryam) Living in an area like Portland, I know I have better access to many resources and supports, but on the other hand, I wonder how many people can relate to the feeling of being afraid because there are people who don’t want you because of your skin color and religion. Leaving the densely packed metro area means going into a world of hatred and fear toward anyone who is “too different.”
There is a sense of dejection inside me and millions of others — that dejection forming because the majority of people who voted in this country, voted for someone who will undoubtedly hurt millions of Americans.
(Lauren) The fact that people primarily focused on Trump’s economic policies, and inherently ignored his hateful, dividing character and alarming policies that will continue to hurt Americans well into the future, is difficult for me to grapple with. You chose the unguaranteed promise of financial success over the rights of the women and girls in your life. Students. People of the LGBTQ+ community. Americans. Our Earth. Our home.
What happens when you are economically ready to have the family you wanted, but the mother of your children is denied reproductive health? What happens when your children go to school, but their school doesn’t have enough money to function and provide a quality education?
Putting your faith in the person who left the economy worse after his first presidency is illogical, and the cost that will come with his agenda — is heartbreaking. Not only did you jeopardize the rights, freedoms, and policies that serve Americans today, but all future generations too.
Yet, with all the worrying, anger, anxiety, frustration and more, I always remember one thought — and I hope you will too. We have been fighting the fight for centuries. There is no reason to stop now.
(Eloise) Kamala Harris represented hope and diversity in our country. She embodied the values of truth, optimism, community and love. I want to thank her for giving me and millions of others hope for change, and I am so grateful for all she has given us. I want to thank her for fighting hard. I encourage you to continue fighting.
(Lauren) Thank you, Kamala Harris. Although you did not win the presidency, you made outstanding feats that impacted young women and girls, like me, worldwide. You proved that a woman of color can hold (and have held) high positions of power in a country where the glass ceiling is a million layers thick. You took a truncated campaign in stride. You promised an America for all. For the people.
Thank you — for giving me more hope than ever, turning it into the unwavering responsibility to never give up the fight.
(Anna) “And we will continue to wage this fight… in how we live our lives by treating one another with kindness and respect, by looking in the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbor, by always using our strength to lift people up, to fight for the dignity that all people deserve,” Harris said in her concession speech.
I believe that this election is a turning point for the nation. It is a statement that as a nation we are morally okay with electing a criminal who seemingly takes some delight in denying almost any group other than those most privileged, rich white and cis-gendered men, over a highly qualified candidate just because she is female of color.
For the next four years, each time I see another outrageous headline I know it will hurt, but it will also be hurting the ones closest to me. Harris may have lost, but not all hope is lost. The defeat will only make our communities tighter and more resilient — come midterms we will vote, we will show up in masses and we will gain back our voice.
(Maryam) Even with the dejection, fear and anger, in the next four years, we have to continue the bravery we have kept up in all of U.S. history. From the moment this nation was created we have always needed to keep our heads up, and from the fights we have fought in the past, I know we can do it again.
“Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear. And let us always remember — when we fight, we win.” – Kamala Harris
