The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

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The Girls Who Code club met together in Sierra Hall, on Friday, Sept. 15, in Northridge, Calif. Club members played around with a program to create a virtual game.
The CSUN club that’s encouraging women in STEM
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CSUN’s Girls Who Code club is just one of many across many campuses and countries, including 110 in...

Students form a crowd for DJ Mal-Ski on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 in Northridge, Calif.
Matador Nights carnival makes a splash at the USU
Ryan Romero, Sports Editor • September 21, 2023

The University Student Union hosted “Matador Nights” on Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to midnight. The event...

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock by FiledIMAGE.
Women’s Soccer has Closed the Competitive Gap
Luis Silva, Reporter • September 19, 2023

There is no longer a significant competitive gap in the sport of women’s soccer. There is a brighter...

The line for concert merchandise on the second night of The Eras Tour in Paradise, Nev., on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
My experience at The Eras Tour
Miley Alfaro, Sports Reporter • September 18, 2023

It’s been a long time coming. I began watching The Eras Tour, Taylor Swift’s ongoing concert trek,...

Within the Oaxacan town of Asuncion Nochixtlan, we find my mother’s birthplace, Buena Vista. Photo taken July 29, 2023.
I Love Being Mexican
September 12, 2023
A student holds up a sign during a rally outside of the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2023.
CSU board approves tuition increase amid protests
Trisha Anas, Editor in Chief • September 15, 2023

The California State Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a 6% tuition increase for the next five...

group of mena and women touching hands
Miracles In Action Restores Patients’ Lives and Actualizes their Potential

What we can learn from 2018 elections looking ahead to 2020

vote+ballot+cartoon
Illustration by Sarah Hofstedt

The 2018 elections have been officially recorded and the results leave us with much to ponder on. Results have shown that there was an impressive turnout in midterm voting with record voting at its highest in 50 years.

This election broke the chain of low turnouts in midterms as 2018 brought out passionate voters from all across the spectrum. Democrats won 40 GOP-held seats for a net gain of 38 seats, more than the 23 they needed to control Congress.

The Republican Party strengthened their hold on the Senate, flipping two seats. Democrats outvoted Republicans by more than 4 million votes with much enthusiasm building. However, in some states the high enthusiasm did not deliver wins. States like Montana, North Dakota and Idaho are so strongly conservative that the increased enthusiasm tightened margins at most, but did not flip the seats.

Some are still debating if there was a blue wave or the power of Trump on results, but one undeniable fact is that the pink wave crested in this election with 110 women winning seats across both chambers of Congress.

Just a few of the historic examples would include the first bisexual female candidate for Arizona, South Dakota’s first female governor, a Native American, a Muslim woman being the first elected to Congress and Tennessee’s first female senator.

There was a high overall interest and engagement specifically among young voters. An ABC Poll showed far more young voters were more “absolutely certain to vote” than in the 2014 midterms. Democratic and Republican voters alike were more passionate and engaged in this election than in the past.

Health care proved to be the front and center issue for voters with other issues such as immigration and relationships with other nations. The midterms were a victory for the Democratic Party, but President Donald Trump declared the election a victory for the Republican Party and his administration.

The Republican Party saw significant wins, specifically in the Senate, by candidates who had aligned themselves and had been backed by Trump. Trump’s campaigning also led to victories in key Senate races that were previously Democrat.

Regardless of party preference, the “Trump Effect” is real. Voter turnout reached record highs among rural populations as in the 2016 election, and on the other hand backlash was clearly evident as well. Whether for or against him, the American people have strong feelings about Trump and his last two years in office.

This is what brought record numbers to the polls and having involved and informed voters is one of the privileges of our democracy. Leaders from both sides saw a victory for their party and something to build upon.

This election displays how divided America remains and that American voters are more passionate now than in decades. The 2020 elections are two years away, and it’s impossible to make predictions this early on.

Voters appear to be intensely engaged in 2018 and how this will play out over the next couple of years will be exciting to see. Trump has made clear he is not going anywhere in 2020 and it would be no surprise to see an even greater record turnout.

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