Students in BGSU’s Journalism and Democracy course spent Election Day listening to voters across Bowling Green. Our question to them: What issues are bringing you out to vote today? Here’s what nearly 90 voters had to say:
David Drain, 74
Retired mathematician/consultant
Conservative/Libertarian
“Local judges and other local issues matter to me.
I don’t care so much about national issues since
my vote doesn’t matter as much.”
By Josh Delaney
Shaunassy White, 19
Sophomore
Middle childhood education major
Democrat
“Who has control of the house and senate and is
making the decisions big and small.”
By Josh Delaney
Nicole Sharits, 51
Custodian
Centrist, depending on issues
“The economy, school levies, health care, and
social security.”
By Dawson Dobyns
Anthony Baxter, 18
Freshman accounting major
Independent, leaning slightly right
“Taxes.”
By Dawson Dobyns
Nick Fosnaugh, 20
Junior political science major
Centrist, slight left leaning
“Power balance.”
By Dawson Dobyns
James Blankenship, 50
Geologist
Right libertarian
“No issues, I always show up to vote.”
By Dawson Dobyns
Jake Rambacher, 18
First-year Pathway student
Independent
“Whether to include the state’s current ID voting
requirement in the Ohio Constitution. I believe this mandated state ID can preserve our
elections.”
By Lillian Duran
Amber Hall, 22
Junior social work major
Democrat
“Data centers.”
By Lillian Duran
Gretta McMillen, 33
PNC Banker
Democrat
“The races for governor and senator. I am voting for everything, essentially.”
By Lillian Duran
Austin Whisler, 25
Teacher
Independent
“I’m voting mostly for issues concerning representation and the data centers.”
By Lillian Duran
Cheryl Bracken, 57
Professor
Independent
“The state of the economy.”
By Michelle Garlock
Katie Mihaly, 44
Librarian
Independent
“Climate Change.”
By Michelle Garlock
Marcelo Arrazola, 20
Sophomore pop culture major
Democrat
“The effects on immigration.”
By Michelle Garlock
Matthew Bray, 18
Freshman psychology major
Democrat
“The government. I want to have a say. I don’t like the actions of the current administration.”
By Michelle Garlock
Trey Kennedy, 19
Sophomore journalism major
“I align my vote based on my Christian
beliefs and scripture. I go with what I think is right based on my religious beliefs.”
“Civil duty, daily living.”
By Jake Giovanni
Noah Brindley, 24
5th year liberal studies major
Democratic Socialist
“Education in Ohio.”
By Jake Giovanni
Callen De Luca, 40
Registered Pharmacy Tech
Independent
“Health services in Ohio and how we make Ohio better.”
By Jake Giovanni
Chris Lewandowski, 25
Unemployed
Republican
“Making Ohio better all round. Cost of living.”
By Jake Giovanni
Aracelia Gonzalez, 19
Sophomore robotics major
Democratic
“All of them.”
By Ava Heineman
David Kuebeck, 43
Director of Budgets and Technology, BGSU Library
Republican
“The federal offices and local issues.”
By Ava Heineman
Veronica Garcia, 19
Sophomore criminal justice major
Democratic
“Immigration issues.”
By Ava Heineman
Christopher Frey, 54
Education and Asian studies professor
Democratic
“Corruption and civil discourse.”
By Ava Heineman
Jakub Kopasz, 20
Junior journalism major
Independent
“Data centers, oligarchs, backward government, bad president.”
By Ava Heineman
Nathan Burkett, 20
Junior media production major
Independent/Dem
“Data centers, high prices, rude local candidates.”
By Andrew Helkowski
Chris Cavera, 51
Professor
Left leaning
“Against deportation; current government is corrupt.”
By Andrew Helkowski
Karl Smith, 61
Falcon Media Manager
Independent
“Levies on the local ballot.”
By Andrew Helkowski
Marianne Geisbuhler, 79
Thompson Scholarship Senior Secretary
Non-party
“All of them.”
By Brooklyn Highsmith
Danica Rath, 19
Sophomore English education major
Democrat
“Taking advantage of the right for women to vote.”
By Brooklyn Highsmith
Cecilia Castellano, 58
Administrator at BGSU
Independent
Wants to continue being a frequent voter
By Brooklyn Highsmith
Lillian Haines, 20
Sophomore criminal justice major
Democrat
“The Ohio governor race.”
By Brooklyn Highsmith
Madeline Russ, 19
Junior FMPD major
Democratic
“Human rights, civil duties, and opposing the Republican candidate.”
By Brighton Hooker
Cole Flanick, 20
Sophomore finance major
Democratic
“Cost of living, inflation, and tax rates.”
By Brighton Hooker
Avery Blair, 22
Retail Worker
Democratic
“Cost of living, reproductive rights, equal rights, environmental protection, and
international conflicts.”
By Brighton Hooker
Alaina Boyd, 19
Dental Assistant
Democratic
“Human rights and abortion.”
By Brighton Hooker
Ian Horenziak, 19
Sophomore economics major
Republican
“For the requirement to show ID. That is really the only thing I cared about.”
By Allison Kulmatycki
Noah Consolati, 19
Sophomore aviation major
Democrat
“All of them, but mostly some of the other candidates desire to cut funding on
education.”
By Allison Kulmatycki
Kristin Schnerer, 35
Outreach Coordinator for History Department, Adjunct Professor
Independent, left-leaning
“All of them. Specifically, corruption, the economy, education, I mean, there’s a
million.”
By Allison Kulmatycki
Heather Duval-Foote, 52
Adjunct Faculty and Academic Advisor
Independent
“Cost of living and I just don’t like our current political landscape.”
By Allison Kulmatycki
Brad Kimbrough, 47
Life Design Coach
Solidly Democratic
“So many. First, responsibility to cast an informed vote. Second, I’m dissatisfied with how this current administration is handing foreign issues.”
By Julianna Lawrence
Hannah Sherick, 19
Sophomore business major
Democratic
“Hometown levy. It’s a big election with offices being elected.”
By Julianna Lawrence
Vicki Seifert, 63
Library associate
Republican
“It’s my right to vote. All of the school issues as well.”
By Julianna Lawrence
Liz Lauch, 37
Communications and engagement strategist
Lean Democratic, but neutral
“All of them. Every issue. The library.”
By Julianna Lawrence
Emma Taylor, 20
Sophomore art education major
Democrat
“Senior levies.”
By Kristina Lowe
Elizabeth Croft, 20
Sophomore digital arts major
Democrat
“I voted just because of everything…the world we live in.”
By Kristina Lowe
Daniel Cancion, 24
Amazon employee
Left
“All the YouTube ads. Yeah, they got me to vote.”
By Kristina Lowe
Adam Duffin, 19
Sophomore
Independent
“I guess prices of stuff, you know, the cost of stuff. Yeah, I guess prices are my
biggest issue.”
By Brady McAlexander
Bruce Thompson, 60
Retired
Independent but a registered Republican
“The one issue I think is voter ID, but that’s not why I am coming out to vote today. I will tell you, my family is divided you know, equally. I’ve got Republicans and Democrats, and then us in between, you know?”
By Brady McAlexander
Michele Murlin, 61
Cashier
Democrat, but votes split-ticket
“Issue three was a big one for me, and voting for the levies for town, for the schools, for the libraries.”
By Brady McAlexander
Emily Hunter, 21
Sophomore film major
Independent
“My main concerns consist of the economy and the general affordability of life.”
By Chyna Mitchell
Delshawn Byrom, 52
Credit manager
Independent
“Prices of things such as gas and rent, and the overall state of the United States at the moment.”
By Chyna Mitchell
Claire Hoover, 38
Advisor
Would rather not say
“Education, healthcare and anything for the public good.”
By Chyna Mitchell
Sianna Wilson, 19
Sophomore psychology major
Democrat
“The economy and affordability.”
By Chyna Mitchell
Cassidy Holasek, 18
Freshman, undecided
Moderate
“I usually look into women’s rights and prioritize health and medical problems that are happening currently. I grew up on a farm so I really care about environmental issues and it is something that should be highlighted. I do try to look at both sides of the coin because I like to think I’m open minded. I am very excited to vote.”
By Matt Mullins
Connor Gehret, 22
Senior individualized business major
Republican
“I chose to vote today because I want my voice to be heard in my country. I am against abortion and I believe that illegal immigration is still a big issue. I do think that Amy Acton lies sometimes and I like to acknowledge that crime rates have dropped since Trump has been in office. There’s also been some tax benefits too.”
By Matt Mullins
Jose Cardenas, 65
Teaching professor
Independent
“I always vote. I feel that is a privilege as a citizen of the United States. I think it’s important for everyone to exercise that right to vote. Local issues are important for me, education, what candidates support that are affiliated with my beliefs. That’s why I’m not affiliated with a party. I look for those who are for the people and that are in the interest of what I feel is fair and just for everybody upholding the constitution.
By Matt Mullins
Miguel Alvarez, 62
Professor
Independent
“I would say that decency, recovering the transparency of the government to stop the corruption, to stop working for individual objectives and to start thinking about the common good. So we have the obligation to defend our democracy. There are also important issues like high inflation and economic policies. But at the end of the day we should bring back the fundamental concepts of democracy.”
By Matt Mullins
Benjiman Jones, 19
Sophomore history major
Left
“Fix cost of living, wars, and civil rights.”
By Faith Nichols
Taylor Wisniewski, 20
Sophomore AYA social studies major
Left
“Make regular purchases lower, help kids and fund schools.”
By Faith Nichols
Drayke Cowell, 31
BGSU Campus Operations
Independent
“Gas prices.”
By Faith Nichols
Ethan Wiseman, 24
Amazon Driver
Undecided
“Gas Prices and lower taxes..the federal kind.”
By Faith Nichols
Mary Hiser, 43
Higher Ed
Middle conservative
“The local ballot.”
By Jeffrie Pace
Sophie Pace, 21
Pharmacy Tech
Usually Republican
“Local ballots.”
By Jeffrie Pace
Madilynn Smith, 19
Freshman
Republican
“Education.”
By Jeffrie Pace
Tyler Petti, 18
Freshman
Minimal
“I’m not voting.”
By Jeffrie Pace
Briana Doughton, 47
Teacher
Republican
“The library is on the ballot.”
By Brady Quiter
Abigail Meek, 32
Democratic
Math specialist
“The Ohio senate race.”
By Brady Quiter
Ashley Burger, 21
Junior nursing major
Independent
“Data centers.”
By Brady Quiter
Noah Daul, 18
Freshman RAAM major
Right-wing nationalist
“Israel.”
By Brady Quiter
Katie Miller, 21
Senior accounting major
Leaning blue
“Women’s rights issues and data centers with their major impact on communities
and their scale.”
By Anna Ruiz
Patty Beam, 50+
Entrepreneur/owner of Good Day Cat Cafe
Middle ground
“To stop the wars.”
By Anna Ruiz
Aniyah Walker, 20
Baker/shift lead at Insomnia cookie
Strong Democrat
“Equality, cost of living, LGBTQ rights.”
By Anna Ruiz
Jacob Deluca, 20
Sophomore accounting major
Neutral
“Inflation and Gas Prices.”
By Ethan Shiffert
Aaron Straka, 18
Freshman AYA math education major
Independent
“Voting for Ohio’s next Governor.”
By Ethan Shiffert
Alex Lane, 27
Grad student and teaching assistant
Progressive
“Cost of living and the production
of data centers.”
By Ethan Shiffert
Sara Butler-Tongate, 47
Archivist
Democrat
“Civil rights, trans rights, abortion rights, anti-fascism.”
By Stephen Stetz
Dana Nemeth, 60
Archivist
Independent
“Local levies.”
By Stephen Stetz
Jacob Davidson, 19
Freshman biology major
Democratic socialist
“So I can have better control of my life.”
By Stephen Stetz
Alden Balarger, 20
Junior finance major
Republican
“Taxes.”
By Stephen Stetz
Spencer Rader, 26
BG Resident
Republican
“My right to do so.”
By Terant Wadino
Maya Bautista, 20
Nursing major
Democrat
“Women’s rights.”
By Terant Wadino
Colin Campbell, 19
Business major
Democrat
“Immigration laws.”
By Terant Wadino
Alden Balarger, 20
Junior finance major
Republican
“Taxes.”
By Elijah Weatherby
Paige Brady, 29
Tutoring Coordinator
Democrat leaning
“Health care for all and
maintaining funding for schools..”
By Elijah Weatherby
Vera Lux, 50
Librarian
Independent
“Local issues like the parks and libraries, as well as funding for education.”
By Elijah Weatherby
Jackson Sigman, 18
Freshman engineering major
Neutral
“Protecting the environment, gas prices, and the parks levy.“
By Elijah Weatherby
Timmy Howells, 18
Freshman sports management major
Democrat
“Gas prices, inflation, and the
cost of living.”
By Elijah Weatherby
Wayne Bucher, 75
Campus Operationa
Independent
“Maintaining the conservative approach, and staying the course.”
By Adriana Ybarra
Olivia Brown, 19
Aviation major
Voted Democratic this year, but doesn’t align with either party.
“Human rights issues.”
By Adriana Ybarra
Rebecca Normile, 19
Freshman aviation major
Independent
“We need younger people in office. More colored individuals.”
By Adriana Ybarra
Karen Eboch
Associate Dean
Looks for the best candidate
“Economy, immigration, women’s rights, and education.”
By Adriana Ybarra