The ninth grade Civics class closely monitored the mid-term elections. The dust has settled and here are some of the candidates the students liked best. These are individual endorsements from the students and do not reflect the school’s opinion.
James Talarico (D-TX)
James Talarico is a one of a kind candidate in today’s political climate. His ability to articulate an argument and reach across the great divide of Republicans and Democrats to find common ground shows his skills as a leader. At first glance, Talarico wouldn’t have a chance of winning the election, since Texas is a deep red state. The last democratic Senator to win an election was in 1988, so why did Talarico succeed? What sets him apart? Some of the contributing factors are the “blue wave” and Talarico’s Christianity which appeals to the many Texans who identify as Christians. Many Texas political leaders have been Christian, but Talarico approaches the subject differently. Talarico treats his religion as a part of his identity that is personal to him, however, while he mentions it frequently it’s clear that he wants Christianity to have no part in controlling America. In May of 2023, when Talarico was a member of the House of Representatives for Texas, he strongly opposed a bill (Bill 1515) made by Candy Nobel which would require schools in Texas to display a copy of the ten commandments in classrooms. More recently, in his website under his section “Freedom, Family and Faith,” he states that a value of his is to “defend the separation of church and state.” In the same section under his track record he includes bills and laws that cross the boundary of separation of church and state that he has fought against which includes Bill 1515 and others, including an attempt to replace counselors with religious chaplains, and incorporate Biblical stories in curriculums. It’s refreshing to see a more nuanced view of Christianity from Talarico, as the current representation of the religion from other political figures is not very diverse or true to the religion itself. His progressive views don’t only extend to Christianity but also include issues that he is tackling like climate change, social media, AI, and the corruption of Democracy. He mixes these views with more conservative ones as well, those including prioritizing veterans, freedom and faith, and securing the border. This blend of values creates a balance that allows Democrats and Republicans to see eye to eye. Texas would benefit greatly from electing Talarico for Senate, and it would make history. The actions that Talarico wants to take aren’t just promises, he’s already proven that he can and will carry out his endeavors. It’s clear that he intends to continue serving for the people of Texas.
Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI)
Out of all the midterm candidates we studied I want Abdul El-Sayed to win the most. I think he can do a lot of good in the Senate, and I am really excited by his proposition of Medicare for all. I think the biggest issue in our country currently is the lack of government coverage for fundamental needs to survive in our modern country, like healthcare, food, and proper education. El-Sayed’s proposed Medicare for all is a big step in the right direction. Another thing I like about El-Sayed’s campaign is his opposition to mega corporations, and desire to give the working class a chance, demonstrated by his refusal to take money from super PACs and plan to overturn Citizens United. El-Sayed plans to fight for AI regulations which is something that I think needs to happen. El-Sayed is also a left–leaning Democrat, so I agree with pretty much all his positions. Another thing I like about El-Sayed is his age. He is 42 which is pretty young for the Senate. I prefer candidates who are not liable to become senile during their term.
When I was choosing who I wanted to win the most, it came down to either Abdul El-Sayed or James Talarico. I really like Talarico’s ability to empathize with and convince people and not just beat them in the free marketplace of ideals, as is clear in his town halls and debates. Talarico also shares most of the positive qualities that I listed about Sayed above (he’s actually five years younger). The main reason that I chose El-Sayed over Talarico is because Talarico is not campaigning on a big heavy hitting bill like Medicare for all. Based on what I’ve seen of their debates, I think El-Sayed will be a more powerful fighter in the senate.
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
I am happy Sherrod Brown won the Ohio senator race, given that we have similar values. He speaks up against corporations and billionaires, advocates for lower costs on healthcare, and is against data centers. Large corporations and billionaires create global economic imbalances between wealth brackets. They get to control markets and control the prices, making them higher without losing business. Additionally, many of these companies and billionaires gained their money through inheritance. According to Oxfam America 36 percent of billionaires’ wealth comes from inheritance. This creates a never ending chain, letting the rich get richer and the poor suffer. As a result of Brown speaking up against billionaires I feel connected to him, and believe that he is a strong voice for the 1.47 million Ohioans who are currently experiencing poverty. His proposals will also stop governmental lobbying, making votes fair and voices heard. This would provide me and others with a sense of inclusion. Additionally, he is a strong supporter of affordability, particularly towards lowering costs in healthcare and basic necessities. According to Coalition and Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, more than half of the 1.58 million renters are paying more than they can afford on rent. This contributes to Ohio’s serious homelessness crisis, which is ranked 14th for total homeless population in the United States. Ending the war in Iran would lower prices for groceries, gas, healthcare, and rent, providing more financial support to those in need. Since Oregon also has a homelessness crisis, I feel connected to Brown because he knows that it’s an issue that people should take action on, and he’s willing to do so. Voting for will help homeless groups get into better situations, making the streets feel safer and create a better environment for everyone. Also, across social media I’ve seen many parents saying they can barely provide food for their family. Voting for Brown can help relieve stress on many of those families, making me want Brown to win even more. Lastly, he continuously has spoken up about data centers across Ohio. He says they’re almost invisible, they’re placed in rural land eating up water and electricity, raising prices by 50 percent. Data centers swallow up land, taking away from natural environments and harming wildlife. To combat this Brown has stood up to data centers, criticizing Ohio for providing roughly $2.5 billion in tax breaks to those facilities. AI and data centers are a key point in his campaign, providing me with a feeling of hope and resilience. I’ve seen videos on how data centers affect families living in rural areas, stripping them of water while also making it dirty and unsafe. They also have to hear a loud hum constantly,. Additionally, many of these families cannot afford to move or leave their homes. The only way we can help them is by voting, and electing people like Sherrod Brown who will stand up against these corporations and regulate business.
Adam Hamilton (D-KS)
I am happy Adam Hamilton won the Kansas senate race because he supports many of my opinions and views. He advocates for ending Trump’s tariffs and lowering oil and gas prices. This is great for low income people in the United States who are being hurt by President Donald Trump’s policies, which cause higher heating and cooling costs. These high costs also make it more expensive to go into work or travel anywhere in a car. Hamilton also supports legislation like the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Bill that passed this year, which helped prevent private equity companies from purchasing houses and also helped prefabricated house production, which allows for cheaper housing. He’s also against corruption in Washington. A major concern recently has been massive levels of insider trading in Washington. This means that the representatives are taking advantage of their positions to get rich. Hamilton also wants to ban representatives from betting on prediction markets, because they are able to bet on events they have larger influence over, such as the passage of a bill or whether or not a bill will exit committee. Additionally, he wants to help overturn Citizens United vs. FEC and put term limits on members of congress. Citizens United overturned a law put into place by Congress which prevented corporations from donating massive amounts of money to campaigns. The Supreme Court decided that corporations were people and were able to donate money because removing this right was a first amendment violation. Lastly, Hamilton wants to help stand up to Trump by blocking Republican votes to cut Medicaid and other services for Kansans. If he is able to flip the seat in the Senate he will be the first Democratic senator from Kansas since 1939. It is important for places to not vote solely for one party because this creates a one party system. If the House, Senate and Supreme Court of a state are controlled by one party, that party can do whatever they want without checks or balances. They can pass a law with full knowledge the Supreme Court will not challenge it and the governor will not veto it.
