The United States will soon have a new leader.
While the results haven’t been finalized, Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden is the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election over President Donald Trump.
As of Nov. 7, Biden has been elected the 46th president of the United States. He secured the necessary 270 Electoral College votes with wins in Nevada and Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Biden was able to flip four states from Trump including Michigan, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina.
In San Joaquin County, Biden holds 56.96 percent of the vote while Trump holds 40.70 percent of the vote as of Tuesday.
Biden will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021.
Many Delta College students are hopeful Biden will provide a fresh start for America after four years of political turbulence under Trump.
“I feel like we are finally going forward after four years of going backwards,” student Bonnie Arbuckle said. “I will appreciate mature, eloquent speaking, preserving female reproductive rights, and more attention on groups who were abandoned by the Trump regime.”
Delta alumna Val Adamsky said she voted for Biden because of the hope of equal opportunity he provides to citizens, regardless of their gender or race.
“I want to know that all Americans have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Adamsky said. “I want these rights for everyone, not just a select few.”
Adamsky said she has been disappointed in Trump’s decision-making during his time as president.
“I have seen this country that I served while in the army turn towards fascim and authoritarianism,” Adamsky said. “I won’t miss the immaturity and the name calling by someone that is supposed to represent all of the American people.”
At the Republican National Convention in August 2020, Trump smeared Biden and Harris, referring to Biden as “Sleepy Creepy” and Harris as “Phony Kamala.”
Despite these actions, student Noelia Larkey said she feels America made the wrong choice in electing Biden.
“I feel like it’s a step backwards and less progressive for the American people,” Larkey said. “I don’t see Biden moving us forward as a country because of his need to pander to the new generation.”
Larkey said healthcare for the middle class has skyrocketed and Biden’s refusal to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will continue to harm Americans.
“Yes, more Americans have coverage, but the coverage they have has ridiculously high premium rates,” Larkey said.
Larkey said she believes free healthcare eliminates free market trade.
“Capitalism is what makes this country great,” she said. “The ability to choose what works for you, which health insurance coverage and which premium.”
Larkey also said Biden’s tuition-free college plans “aren’t as progressive as they seem.”
“The value of education will go down,” she said. “There’s no challenging incentive for the individual.”
While student Ray Baguio said Biden’s eight years of experience as vice president will help him understand how to work with the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, Baguio is still on the fence about Biden’s win.
“I’m impartial and indifferent. I’m just more of a wait and see type person,” Baguio said. “I think the whole political game is a lot of feel good rhetoric that invigorates individuals into a sense of excitement. We’ll have to wait and see what he does in the first 100 days.”
