Voters had many issues to consider at midterms

Americans across the country turned out in large numbers on Tuesday to vote in a highly anticipated midterm election seen as a referendum on US President Donald Trump’s first two years.

China Daily talked to some of them in New York, New Jersey, Texas, California and Washington DC.

“Every single election period, we as the Chinese-American community always have the lowest voting percentage,” said Sha Sha of New Jersey, who is in her 40s, works in the financial services sector and has her own company. “So we have to change. Most of us are in the middle class or upper, so financially we are very strong.

“But very few people come to voice their opinions in terms of politics. So if we don’t do it today, it’ll remain hard for our kids to make changes.

“I went to vote in the morning and met many of my neighbors were there. I was so happy to see my fellow Chinese Americans coming to vote. We are more and more realizing its importance.”

Sha said her “main focus is the illegal immigrant issue. … The majority of government revenue is from tax. … It’s up to the government to decide what portion of that revenue would be used on which issue. There’s health care, education, Social Security. And of course there’s money spent on international refugees.

“The refugees and illegal immigrants are different concepts,” Sha said. “Yes, helping out the refugees is about humanity and helping each other,” she said. “But in reality as a country, as a government, its priority should be serving the American people. So if the government keeps allowing people to come to the US illegally, it’s very hard to convince the taxpayers that they are serving the American people.”

“I voted mostly for my party, but if the candidate is a Chinese or Asian, I voted for that candidate regardless of their party affiliation because it’s important for Asians to be part of the system,” said businessman Austin Zhao of Pearland, Texas.

“Unfortunately a lot of Chinese Americans think that their votes are meaningless, and they don’t vote. When the number of Asian or Chinese Americans voting is so low, the politicians won’t listen to your concerns when they make decisions. I don’t care who you support, but Chinese Americans should go out to vote,” he said.

“I like (Democratic US Senate candidate) Beto [O’Rourke] more [than Republican Ted Cruz], but he’s another career politician, so we will have to see what will happen,” said Jade G. of Houston.”

“The things I’m more concerned are health care and income inequality — they are real problems. I would like to see a single-payer system, and I think right now we are heading in the wrong direction,” said Don Grillo, a Democrat interviewed in New York City.

“Decent health insurance is a basic right for people in this country — everyone needs to have it, and now the current administration has made it endangered.”

Michael Butler, an independent voter in New York City, said “there’s a lot I’m concerned about; I am of the belief that nothing happens by accident ... so maybe he (Trump) will show us our democracy is precious, and we have to defend it.

“This year’s election is a correction that will test our ability and how we defend our democracy. I think the whole world is watching how we respond,” Butler said.

“The Statue of Liberty is built for freedom for everyone, not just for specific parties. I think everyone is entitled to their freedom to come in and live how they want to live,” said Toni Mitchell, a Democrat in New York City:

“Winning the election is not the most important thing for me,” said Don Sun, 59, a businessman from Cupertino, California running for a school board position. “I want to encourage the Chinese community to participate in the political process. As a Chinese immigrant, I think there’s a lot of space for us to improve in terms of civic participation.”

“I am really tired of the Trump administration,” said Yuri Barragan, 27, a student from Azusa, California. “It’s the big issue of race and justice for people. I have to deal with that kind of thing, some family members, because we are not white. I just see here a lot of divisions, just walking around and just hearing about how my neighbors talk about different races, so race is the big issue that really concerns me.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you are Republican or Democrat, (it’s) who’s the right person for the office. So I kind of venture on both sides, depending on what’s right for the state, what’s right for the city,” said Zerry Holefield, 58, of Arcadia, California, a home-loan sales manager for a credit union.

“This is the first midterm election that I’ve seen in years that has not just gone under the radar,” said Natalia Simmons Thomas, a junior studying international affairs at George Washington University in Washington DC. “So I guess recent politics had created more pressure on people, and they are finally starting to see the importance in voting.”

“I think the most important domestic issue is immigration. Me and my family are immigrants, so I that is something that I’m passionate about,” said Ana Mayumi Kato, also a GWU undergraduate, in arts and sciences. “Not all immigrants are bad, and not everyone comes here illegally.”

Kong Wenzheng and Zhang Ruinan in New York, Dong Leshuo and Feier Wu in Washington, Liu Yinmeng in Los Angeles, Lia Zhu in San Francisco and May Zhou in Houston contributed to this story.