First-time voters split on Trump v Biden rematch

Mar. 15—With a presidential election looming large this fall, November will mark the first time millions of young Americans will exercise their right to vote in a nation with a two-century reputation for being the cradle of liberty. These young people, however, across party lines, have some concerns about the state of the union as the nation barrels toward an acrimonious rematch between current President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

"I'm specifically looking more to the Republican Party, but people like Ron DeSantis, him dropping out, and [Vivek Ramaswamy], that was really who I was going for, but I think most of those people have dropped out. The people who are genuine ... have been dropping out, and so we're looking at Biden and Trump again for the upcoming election, and those are both two people who I don't think should be president at all," said Oskaloosa High School senior Evelyn Adam in conversation with the Herald. Adam will be voting for the first time this November. She is leaning Republican but is still undecided, and says she is feeling pessimistic about the current state of politics in the United States.

Ottumwa High School senior Jace Clawson, who will also be voting for the first time this November, says that in the legislative branch, the division feels hateful and raises concerns.

"It's very concerning where it's going, and I'm not that confident with how things are going at all," Clawson said. "Congress itself feels like it hates each other. It doesn't feel civil. It doesn't feel like they're actually discussing. It's more like, 'I want my opinion to be right and your opinion to be wrong.'"

For Adam, border security at the U.S.-Mexico Border is a key election issue, particularly because of her concerns about human trafficking and drugs.

"Not that immigrants are bad or anything like that, but we just don't have control over that border," she said. "On the border of Mexico we're letting people — there's so much human trafficking going through there, there's so much drugs, there's so much...we just don't have control over that area."

Adam would like to see more resources sent to the border to possibly increase patrols or further secure the border wall that is still under construction "So we don't let the bad stuff get into America," she said. "We're stopping it there, which is why we have screenings for immigrants to come over, so they help further our nation and don't tear it down in the process."

Clawson, on the other hand, doesn't have much faith in measures like the border wall or law enforcement working to catch individuals who have entered the country without authorization. He takes a more relaxed stance on the state of the southern border, and says that if the process to legally enter the country was more streamlined, the issue would be at least partially resolved.

"We are a country built on immigration. It's a bit concerning if there are floods of illegal immigrants, but overall, it's the only way our population is increasing. I don't think it's as big of a concern legally, and we should allow more people in legally. If the process wasn't so slow to get in legally, I don't think there would be as much of a problem with illegal immigrants," he said.

"Personally I don't think building a wall helps at all, and there are so many ways of transportation that physical objects will not be able to prevent immigration. I'm not entirely confident in the idea of going around and trying to find them because the process takes too long," Clawson added.

Other issues Adam and Clawson commented on include the economy, foreign policy and gun laws. Adam says that if the election were held today, she would vote for Trump.

"Biden sometimes seems like a shell of a person. I mean, he's getting old, he's not as able-bodied, but Trump, he's confident. He's arrogant, but he can be confident in public relations and national relationships too, so I think that is vital. Especially in the state of the world right now, just the turmoil and conflict, I think he'd do a better job of handling it," she said.

Clawson is taking the opposite view and says that he is planning to vote for Biden.

"Personally I'm going for Biden. I feel like he's the better between two evils right now. His age is a real concern, but I'm not sure how confident [I am] with a politician who is unable to keep his mouth shut and has no empathy. I'm more confident Biden can think of better solutions and/or have people around him to give him good advice," he said.

"Both of them are pretty old, and I don't believe they're truly representing the population of the United States, but the problem is that no one has been able to beat them. It certainly bothers me our former president has so many accusations against him, and it also gives a negative look of our country as a whole from the outside. It's not a great look," he added.

Adam is also concerned about the multiple court cases Trump has been and still is involved in. However, she still considers him the most viable candidate due to his decision making skills.

"I mean, yeah, it's concerning. It's a factor to take in, especially," Adam said. "But Trump knows what he wants, he knows what he gets, and so that, I think, is very helpful in making decisions, being decisive."

"I would rather have Trump over Biden, even with those court cases and stuff like that," she added.

Staff writer Chad Drury contributed to this report.

Channing Rucks can be reached at crucks@oskyherald.com.