After former President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election on Nov. 5, Studio City residents reflected on candidate choices, concerns they had going into the election and how well their personal issues will fare during Trump’s second term.
Studio City resident Gloria Frank, who voted for Harris, said female reproductive rights were an important issue for her in this election.
“We live in a bubble here [in Studio City],” Frank said. “I have two nieces that are young women, and I’m concerned about their ability to make their own healthcare decisions, should the need become apparent. It frightens me that women are being told what they have to do with their bodies over being able to make their own decisions. People should be treated as equal and not have some man decide what a woman should do with herself.”
Nicolle Lopez, a Store Manager at the Ralphs on Ventura Blvd. and Coldwater Canyon Ave., said that she did not vote, but if she did, she would have voted for Trump because of his economic policies.
“Economically and financially, Trump would be the better choice, especially because interest rates right now are out of control,” Lopez said. “However, it was hard for me to take either candidate seriously because I just felt the whole thing was very childish. The debate did it for me, I don’t even think I finished watching it. It was just the way that they handled themselves. All I can do is literally laugh at them and compare them to my children.”
Inflation has been a source of concern over the past few years, as prices of everyday goods have increased and impacted citizens financially. During Trump’s first 45 months in office, inflation was up by an average of 7.1%, in comparison to the same time frame under Biden, where inflation was up by 20.1%, according to the government’s consumer price index.
Flier Distributor Manny Garcia said price inflation on essential items like food and gas were primary concerns to him and his family and influenced his decision to vote for Trump.
“Inflation is really high,” Garcia said. “I used to go to the grocery store and pay about $200, get a full five or six bags of groceries. Now it’s literally half a bag, and I’m paying about $200 and that’s really affecting our family.”
Lopez said a lack of action during Harris’ term as Vice President impacted her decision to lean towards Trump.
“As a vice president, I didn’t see her presence,” Lopez said.
Garcia also said he believes Trump can unite everyone and enact the change that is needed to bring together the two political parties.
“This country has been separated by race or by rich and poor and different classes,” Garcia said. “We’re really separated. I don’t think we’ve been this separated for a very long time, so I do feel that we’ve got to unite. Trump will change everything. He’s already putting people into place, and even the people he’s choosing for cabinet will impact the future of the Republican party.”
