Fresno State journalism students spread out across campus to gather thoughts on the anxiety spike approaching the 2024 election.
Emmanuel Romero, 23, a Fresno State English major in his junior year, talked about why he does not have election anxiety while fidgeting with his skateboard near the Memorial Court Fountain.
When asked to give context on why he is not anxious about the election, Romero said that he’s “not informed” and “not involved.”
“The best piece of advice I can give is for somebody to make an informed decision and choose a candidate that best represents you that has the values that you align yourself with,” Romero said.
Q: Can I ask why you aren’t informed or involved?”
A: “I don’t know. I feel like whatever the policies are just don’t really affect me. I feel like no matter who the president is — it’s always the same thing.”
Q: Is there anything you do, in your personal life, that maybe contributes to your lack of affectation?”
A: “I don’t think so. I never really taken an interest in politics. I never really had an interest in voting.”
Q: Do you have any advice for dealing with anxiety for dealing with the upcoming election for other people?”
A: “I think if you do have anxiety [about] the election you’ve got to spread the awareness about the candidate that you think is going to benefit you the most and get your family or friends involved and make them informed about why it affects your life and why they should vote, you know, a certain direction.”
Romero concluded the conversation with a lighthearted moment about his birthday coinciding with the election season.
“I don’t have anxiety around the election,” Romero said. “I’m usually out partying.”
Interview done by Sabrina Stevenson
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Fresno State junior Christian Conti, 25, voices his concerns on the 2024 election. Growing up near Yosemite, Conti has witnessed the political climate drastically switch since the 2016 election. This has made him very cautious of his political allegiance.
Q: How do you feel about the upcoming election?
A: “This election has had me more worried about the future than any other election. Both the candidates do not seem to be the best fit for our country, so it’s hard to decide who to vote for.”
Q: Do you feel any anxiety or pressure from others?
A: “I feel tremendous anxiety to vote from others and have not got much reasoning why they’re pushing me to vote for who they voted for. Especially telling me they’re voting for a woman to have the first ever woman president when gender has no part in being a good fit for president.”
Q: If you don’t care too much about politics or the election, why?
A: “I don’t care too much about politics because in California the vote is gonna be for the Democrat candidate no matter what. That makes my vote not matter as much as if I lived in a swing state.”
Q: Do you think it really matters who’s president at the end of the day?
A: “I do think it matters, but I think both are gonna have pros and cons to being in office for the next 4 years.”
Q: Are you going to vote this year?
A: “I am not going to vote this year, since I feel like my vote doesn’t matter here in California.”
Interview done by Chase Gauthier
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Callie Frangasso, a 23-year-old Fresno State student, shared that she thinks that it’s important for college students to vote, regardless of their doubts, to have an opportunity to have their voices heard.
Frangasso is currently in her fifth year as a French major.
Q: Is this your first time voting?
A: “Yes.”
Q: How do you feel about that and the election in general?
A: “I feel a little nervous, not going to lie, but I feel confident. The people that are close to me, including my family, are voting the same way as I am so that does make me feel a little bit better.”
Q: For that feeling of nervousness, what are some of the factors that made you feel that way?
A: “I just don’t like being around animosity at all, there’s obviously been a lot. I just don’t like being a part of fights. I feel that there has been a lot that have started and can start because of this election.”
Q: As a first-time voter yourself, how would you encourage other young people to vote?
A: “I would tell them to use this opportunity to make a change for their future. If you vote for someone and they don’t up winning, at least you know that you did your part and did all that you could as a citizen, but if you don’t, you can’t really be mad about the outcome because you expected others to make up for it.”
Interview done by Celeste Rivas
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Victoria Quintana, a 21-year-old junior majoring in business, has been having mixed feelings about this year’s election. Quintana is a Business major and cares deeply about the state of our country, which is why she has been continuously trying to gain knowledge on the 2024 presidential candidates.
Q: How are you feeling about the upcoming election? Are you feeling some type of anxiety about it or are you pretty confident?
A: “I would say I’m kind of on both sides. On one side, I do have some anxiety about who’s going to win this election because I feel like, especially now in this time and this year, it’s a very important election. If one candidate gets elected, the country can go one certain way and then if the other gets elected then it could be a complete opposite so there is some anxiety there for me, but also as a Christian, I know God is in control of everything and I don’t have to be afraid or have anxiety about the election. There’s both sides to my feelings.”
Q: Regarding that yes-side about the anxiety, how have you been managing or dealing with that?
A: “I think just talking to my family or other people that kind of feel the same way as me, but also trying to get as much knowledge as I can to kind of deal with it. About feeling anxious, I feel like it comes from cancel culture in our society right now, about certain people being afraid of saying their opinion or what they believe would be the best fit for our country because they feel different people’s opinions or people judging them. I tend to fall into that sometimes as well.”
Q: Are you a first-time voter?
A: “I am. This is my first presidential election to vote, so high stakes.”
Interview done by Rachel Yepremian
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Enoch Woods believes his vote doesn’t count so he won’t vote for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.
He said his vote really doesn’t matter in the highest sense because they take whoever they want to be in office and usually just throw our votes to the side.
Q: Do you have any anxiety about the outcome of this election?
A: “Knowing the future of where things are going, we’re going to have a World War III sooner or later. I wouldn’t say I’m anxious at all, but I feel this election will heighten my generation’s career and life.”
Q: If you did vote, would you be voting against somebody being in office, or would you be voting for someone you believe should be in office?
A: “I would vote for who I want to see in office. If you want to know who I would vote for if I were voting, it would most likely be Trump. I’m not a Trump supporter, and I know what I’m saying is controversial, I can just see what Trump did when he was in office. Trump has made peace with people, whereas when Biden came into office, he made war with them. I’d rather go with someone who takes longer to get to World War III rather than somebody such as Kamala Harris, who is going to have us jump straight into it.”
Q: “Are you worried about rioting or public destruction from this election?
A: “I think it’s going to happen no matter what. It usually happens during almost any presidential debate. It’s a natural thing that’s going to happen and people are just going to have to live with that.”
Q: Are you concerned about the possibility of another type of event, such as what happened with the Jan. 6 insurrection?
A: “No. I think if that were to happen again, it was supposed to happen. It’s something God does to move things forward, and that’s just how it has to happen.”
Interview done by Tere Randolph
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Loss of sleep and an uncomfortable feeling in her workspace are things 24-year-old Dillania Barnett, senior agricultural education major, is experiencing and despite it being her second time voting, her anxiety is at an all-time high.
Q: Has the election caused you any anxiety?
A: “This election, yes, has caused me a little bit of anxiety towards voting and how it’s going to end up turning out.”
Q: What are some specific aspects of the election that are causing you the anxiety?
A: “Specific aspects would be the outcome like knowing who’s going to end up winning between Kamala [Harris] and Trump [Donald]. How it’s going to affect the nation for the next four years and how my life is going to be affected the next four years.”
Q: How does this anxiety manifest for you?
A: “Recently it’s been more, I get more nervous with a lot of things, especially if it gets brought up at my workplace just because you never know how somebody’s going to react. So it’s more nervousness or jitters. Now that it’s getting closer it’s more like I get sleeping problems from thinking about it before I go to bed.”
Q: What strategies do you use to cope or help you with your anxiety?
A: “Some strategies I have been using is talking about it with people I am comfortable with, that I know aren’t going to judge my political views, or have the same political views as me so it’s easier to talk about it with them. Also if I see it on social media, I avoid it more so then I don’t have to see others judging my point of view.”
Q: So has social media played a role in your anxiety during this election?
A: “Yes, I feel like before I wouldn’t see as much social media stuff, like with the 2020 election, but this time it’s everywhere. So yeah it’s probably played a much bigger role in my anxiety.”
Q: Has it hindered you academically at all?
A: “I feel like it hinders me being able to concentrate in certain classes just because some professors have talked about it, so then it’s kind of difficult to concentrate after it’s brought up. I end up thinking more about the election than the actual lecture in class.”
Interview done by Leslie Gonzalez
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With voting comes the anxiety and stress of the outcome, especially in college students.
Hector Agredano, a senior and music major said he isn’t facing anxiety because he doesn’t care for either candidate.
Q: The election is coming up on Nov. 5. Do you have any anxiety about the election?
A: “I wouldn’t say I have anxiety. I’m just not fond of either candidate. I feel like I can’t relate to either of them and don’t agree with them on a few things.”
Q: I understand where you’re coming from. Why do you feel that way?
A: “I think there are flaws in a two-party system. You’re either a Democrat or a Republican, but sometimes you could have a few ideas that are more Democrat and Republican. Or you could have radically different views that don’t fit you into those boxes.”
Q: What will you tell others dealing with election anxiety?
A: “I’d say many things are out of your control. You have your responsibilities that you can achieve and your personal goals that you can attack and go for. I’d say just do your best with what you have and don’t complain about things out of your control because that won’t change anything. Do the best with what you have.”
Interview done by Alexander Briseno
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Hunter Gibson, 27, was an English major at Fresno State before graduating and pursuing a career in education. Gibson is currently an educator in Merced but resides in Fresno County and is an actively involved alumnus.
Here are his thoughts on the election.
Q: What are your main concerns or priorities going into this election?
A: “My biggest concern is that California enforces policies that affect education in a negative way. Another concern I have going into this election is that inflation is taking over and that the presidency will influence whether or not it continues to increase.”
Q: Did those concerns influence which candidate you chose to vote for?
A: “These concerns have influenced who I plan to vote for because one candidate prioritizes these issues over the other.”
Q: Do you have any worries about the election and the impact it will have on your life or community?
A: “I do worry a lot about the impact this election will have on the community because of things like inflation, affordable healthcare and living. Working-class people are going into debt and finding it hard to afford basic necessities.”
Q: Have you already voted?
A: “No, but I am going to. I will be dropping my ballot off at the courthouse or in a local ballot box.”
Interview done by Lauryn Knott
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Yasmin Cortez, 19, is a Criminology major at Fresno State. As the upcoming election nears, she is feeling both excitement and anxiety about the political landscape. Originally from Coachella Valley, Cortez is unable to vote here in Fresno so she will have to travel back during the week and miss class if she decides to vote. At this time she is also conflicted with having to skip her classes to vote since this will be her first time voting.
Q: What are your feelings on the current election climate and any anxieties it might bring?
A: “I feel a lot of tension and awkwardness, especially when discussing politics with some of my friends, family and even in class with other students. It’s like everyone is trying to avoid the subject.”
Q: What concerns, if any, do you have about how this election could affect you personally?
A: “Honestly, this election feels really personal. As a first-generation college student, I worry a lot about how policies could affect financial aid and other resources that help people like me get through school. I also think about my family, especially with issues around immigration and healthcare, which can really impact us directly. It’s like every time I turn on the news, there’s something that makes me wonder how our lives could change, and that creates a lot of anxiety. I just want to make sure our voices are heard and that we’re protected,”.
Q: Do you feel that Fresno State is a safe space for open political discussion? Why or why not?
A: “I think Fresno State is mostly a safe space for political discussion, but it depends on who you’re talking to. I feel comfortable discussing certain issues with friends who have similar backgrounds or understand my perspective as a Hispanic first-generation student. But sometimes, in class or around campus, I hold back because I worry about how people might react. I wish there were more spaces specifically for open, respectful discussions, where we could all feel heard without judgment. It would help a lot with feeling more supported.”
Interview done by Alex Flores
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German Alcala, an 18-year-old criminology major at Fresno State, shared his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election and its related issues.
His thoughts may reflect the concerns and priorities of a younger generation participating in the electoral process, providing a way to understand how young voters, such as himself, perceive the political landscape.
Q: What are your primary sources of information about the election (e.g., news outlets, social media, friends, family)?
A: “My primary sources of information about the current election is social media and the news. I see a lot of ads on social media and on the news about who to vote for.”
Q: How do you verify the accuracy of the information you receive about the election?
A: “The way I verify the accuracy of information I get about the election is I make sure it’s supported and approved by the person saying the information.”
Q: Do you feel that social media platforms influence your views on the election? If so, how?
A: “Not really, I don’t really care about them. I just don’t want Kamala Harris to win. I’ve been able to keep my mind set on who I want to win.”
Q: Have you noticed any biases in the information you receive? How do you navigate or counteract these biases?
A: “Yeah I do, but I just avoid whatever they say. I don’t really care what others have to say if I already like what one person says. I don’t get clickbaited easily or believe everything on the internet.”
Q: How do discussions with friends and family impact your perspective on the election and your level of anxiety?
A: “They help me get a better understanding of what exactly our candidates are trying to do for the United States. They help inform me of each one and lean to one side. Because of this, I don’t really feel anxious about it.”
Interview done by Ezequiel Reyes
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Gema Banuelos, a Fresno State rodeo student-athlete, said she feels that this year, after all the political drama, is an especially important year to vote.
Banuelos is currently a fourth year pursuing an Agricultural Education major.
Q: Is this your first time voting?
A: “No, I voted last year for the first time and will continue to vote every election due to its importance.”
Q: What’s your overall perspective on the election?
A: “I view the election as a pivotal moment for shaping the near future, particularly around pressing issues like the economy, climate change and social policies. Elections allow voters to voice their opinions on our nation’s direction and can have a significant impact on how these critical areas are addressed.”
Q: Are you nervous for the election?
A: “Absolutely, I feel like many people just vote without knowing what their party has done for this economy and their votes are purely because they like the way a certain candidate speaks. And in my opinion, it’s much more than that and I wish people looked into who they were voting for and took notes of who’s been the most positively impactful to our country and nation.”
Q: Do you feel like your teammates share the same perspective on the election?
A: “Yes, and we are not afraid to let people know who we believe will guide this nation in the best direction.”
Interview done by Sabrina Welch
