Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States Wednesday morning, and the announcement sparked varied reactions across UI political RSOs.
“I’ve seen a lot of different phases of empowering and mobilizing young people on our campus towards reproductive liberation,” said Emma Darbro, senior in Information Sciences and president of UI Planned Parenthood Generation Action. “I felt we were able to do some really, really amazing organizing, so waking up this morning was really hard.”
Given her role as a political advocate on campus, Darbro addressed the uncertainty surrounding reproductive care, noting that many peers have asked her if things will be “OK.” She acknowledged that the election had left many feeling uncertain, reflecting widespread concerns about the future of healthcare rights.
“I do not know, and I cannot project what direction this organization will take, but I can promise that it will be one that is directed towards meaningful change,” Darbro said about Planned Parenthood Generation Action.
For Jack LaMorte, senior in LAS and president of Illini Republicans, Wednesday was a good day. President-elect Trump and the Republican Party had capitalized on discontentment with the Democratic Party.
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“I think people are just upset with the cost of living right now under the Biden/Harris administration, and I think that’s the baseline of it,” LaMorte said. “I don’t think the Democratic attacks worked against Trump that well.”
LaMorte attributes much of the election results to economic frustration among voters, particularly with the Biden administration. For LaMorte, Trump’s victory seems more like an indictment on the Democratic Party than excitement for Republicans.
“I would say that it is definitely more of a disillusionment with the Biden administration,” LaMorte said. “The massive fall off that you see from 2020 for their party, and I think that they were able to unify more behind Biden. I think that Vice President Harris splits Jewish and Muslim voters in her race, and some of them didn’t vote.”
All seven battleground states swung Trump’s way, but maybe the most interesting development was that many of the consistently democratic states also had record close margins. Here in Illinois, LaMorte noticed this shift heading into election day.
Darbro also noted the delay in a democratic win in Illinois, one of the historically blue states. While county results almost mirrored Illinois’ 2020 outcomes, Winnebago County — which leaned Democratic in 2020 — has 99% of the votes counted and is showing a lead for Republican voters.
“It is a great privilege to be in Illinois, to know that although we might get screwed over in the House, Senate, Supreme Court and the White House, I still live in a blue state,” Darbro said. “I also recognize that it took way too long for the electoral votes to come in last night for Illinois with so many unexpected Republican votes. So I do acknowledge the change in landscape.”
When asked what he was looking forward to in Trump’s second term, LaMorte expressed anticipation for the closing of the southern border, as well as the strengthening of the economy and foreign policy.
For Darbro, the day was one of tears and pride as she reflected on the importance of going to the polls and sharing the freedom to participate in a national election.
“I have seldom been able to stop crying this morning, but I also feel a sense of pride in that I care so much,” Darbro said. “Every single time I can vote, I vote and encourage everyone to do the same. I think that is how we demonstrate that we are good people and that we do care.”
