EMMA PIRHALA / NEWS EDITOR

The race for the White House escalated during a summer full of surprises. In an unprecedented election, the presidential contest faced a turning point at the first debate on June 27, where a poor performance by incumbent President Joseph Biden raised concerns about his age and health. Although Biden admitted that he did poorly, he remained adamant that he would stay in the race. 

“I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party,” Biden stated in a fundraising email. “No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.” 

However, by late July, Biden stepped off the ballot, giving way for Vice President Kamala Harris to sweep away the Democratic nomination. On August 22, Harris accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention.

During her acceptance speech, she called on Americans to look towards the future.

“It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done,” Harris said. “Guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love, to fight for the ideals we cherish and to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth — the privilege and pride of being an American.”

Supporting Harris is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who officially joined the ticket  on August 6. As Governor, Walz, a former schoolteacher and high school football coach, played a crucial role in securing free breakfast and lunch for Minnesota students. Walz also led Minnesota to become the first state to pass legislation protecting rights to abortion following 2022’s Dobbs decision.

USD sophomore Elaina Phiel explained why she is voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

“I want to vote to ensure not only my own future but the future of America,” said Phiel. “While I do not agree with all of their policies, I agree with [Harris’s] idea of America and how she  treats people. I am voting to ensure that I have the right to vote. I can ensure that I have control over my reproductive rights and, hopefully, eventually have more equality as a whole. [Walz] has a stellar track record as Governor and has served the country.”

On the other side of the aisle, former President Donald Trump faced an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, PA, where a bullet grazed his ear. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed on scene by Secret Service snipers. 

Although the event led to a brief lead in the polls, the appointment of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate received mixed reviews. Senator Vance first achieved fame due to his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which detailed his upbringing in a low-income family in Ohio navigating issues of opioid use and domestic abuse.

USD junior and president of the USD College Republicans, Corey Jernigan, expressed his opinion on the selection of Vance as running mate. 

“Personally, I would have liked to see someone like Thomas Massie, Ron Paul or Jim Jordan, but I understand they are currently very important in their roles in government,” Jernigan stated. “JD Vance started his career criticizing Trump and has ties to the CIA, and there would have been stronger and more trustworthy running mates to choose from. However, he is the pick for VP, and [the USD College Republicans] support the Trump campaign’s choices.”

As of August 27, the race is close, with national polling data from The Economist showing Harris with a two-point lead. 

No matter the outcome of the election, USD Assistant Vice President for Student Life Dr. Byron Howlett believes it is important to remain respectful to all. 

The Civil Discourse Ambassador Program by Student Affairs hopes to increase civic engagement and meaningful dialogue. 

“It is a priority for the division of Student Affairs to really help ensure that students have the skill set to engage in constructive and simple dialogue,” Howlett explained. “A lot of what we see, the opposite, is uncivil and unconstructive dialogue. And we know that at USD, we’re better than that. Toreros are better than that, and we have the opportunity to role model that for the community.”

Howlett explained the significance of civic engagement for first-time student voters.

“For the majority of students, this will be their first election and we want to help students to better navigate everything that’s involved with elections. We’re taking a very nonpartisan approach. This is not about Donald Trump or Kamala Harris for us. We’re removing ourselves from the partisanship of it, but we want to go even deeper than the partisanship and get folks to think about [their] own values and own beliefs. How do you communicate respectfully to one another?”

Regarding the next steps of the election, Howlett explained the critical dates for students to look out for.  

“There’s at least one scheduled debate between the presidential candidates, that’s September 10. For USD, there’s a couple of benchmark dates that we want people to be aware of. September 17 is National Voter Registration Day and USD Votes is going to be doing a lot of preparation for that and getting the message out to students about that. And there is going to be an event happening in Warren Auditorium called ‘The Right to Vote.’”

The University plans to provide multiple opportunities for civil engagements in the election process, with USD Votes helping Toreros register to vote. With less than three months to Nov. 5, the clock is ticking for students to help pick the next President.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump captivate audiences at rallies. Photo courtesy of @thedemocrats and @realdonaldtrump/Instagram

USD Votes helping students register to vote. Photo courtesy of @usdvotescampaign/Instagram