Following the 2024 presidential election, The Lantern reached out to Ohio State students to hear their opinions on the outcome.
Following a close and contentious election, former President Donald Trump won with 50% of the popular vote and 312 electoral votes, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 48.3% of the popular vote and 226 electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.
Out of 31 responses, six leaned conservative while 25 leaned liberal.
The Lantern created a Google Form survey accessible to students through The Lantern’s Instagram account. The form included two questions asking respondents what issue most influenced their vote and how they felt following the election’s results.
If any conservative students feel that their views are underrepresented by this survey, we encourage them to direct message The Lantern on Instagram with their thoughts on the election.
Breaking down responses
Just under 26% of student respondents said the most important issue that influenced their vote was the state of democracy, and a separate 25.8% said reproductive rights most strongly dictated their decision. The economy was the third most-cited issue across respondents, with 16.1% labeling it as the most influential to their vote.
Sofi Cobb, a fourth-year in communication, said the most crucial issue that impacted her vote was the state of democracy. She said she was “heartbroken” over the results, and Trump’s character is “not one to be praised.”
“I have already noticed a shift with misogynists being louder, more comfortable saying what they claim they never felt — ‘Your body my choice,’ to name one,” Cobb said. “That isn’t political it’s personal. [Trump’s] character is not one that should be praised and issues aside I genuinely worry what will happen over the next four years with Trump in office. The US should be a country of acceptance not fear and hatred, my thoughts are with everyone who will be negatively affected.”
Savina Reo, a first-year in business, said reproductive rights played a key part in her decision-making process. Reo said she was “deeply saddened” and “angered” by how women’s rights are being handled in the U.S.
“Women are the foundation on which our society is built — our mothers, sisters, friends, and daughters who bring life into this world, nurture families, and drive progress in countless fields,” Reo said. “Yet, rather than honoring their contributions, our society continues to belittle and undermine them.”
In addition, Reo inquired why “[voters] can’t show the respect women deserve?”
“Women birth us, raise us, and stand at the forefront of every movement pushing for a better world,” Reo said. “But instead of supporting their autonomy and voices, there are those who work tirelessly to strip away their fundamental rights. The ignorance of those who oppose reproductive rights has grown louder and more powerful than the voices advocating for these freedoms, and that is terrifying.”
Lauren Lee, a graduate student in social work, said the economy was her chief consideration. In her response, Lee said she was “very hopeful for the future.”
Gabriel Jacknow, a first-year in political science and international student, said the most important issue that influenced his vote was foreign policy. Jacknow said his feelings toward the outcome of the election were “more positive than negative.”
The four other responses that leaned conservative were either anonymous or identified as feeling neutral toward the results.
Aiden Toler, a first-year in agriscience education, said his driving issue was the state of democracy. He said the U.S. has “forgotten the value of sitting down and having an intellectual conversation.”
“Actually sitting down and talking through each topic and point of interest is the root of all agreeance and change,” Toler said. “And if we disagree, [that] is also another spot for growth and change. Politics should not have to be screamed at us to be able to get across.”
Toler said the “humanity has also been taken out of the role of president.”
“When the Constitution was written it was intended that anyone from the lowly farmer to the aristocrats could be the president,” Toler said. “Throughout recent years this has become more and more false with [career] politicians, with really no experience with what [the] majority [Americans] are dealing with, becoming our president.”
