VOTER VOICES 🗣️
VOTER VOICES 🗣️
People in Michigan have some big decisions to make this election. We’re talking to voters across the state to learn about what's happening in their lives — both hopeful and stressful — to better understand what's driving them to vote this election year. You can follow along on this two-week series as we feature 11 Michiganders from across the state on our social media channels.
DANNY CELAYA, GRAND RAPIDS, 25
Celaya works in communications and is a union member. He’s also undocumented, originally from Mexico, but working in the U.S. as part of the DACA program. He will not be able to vote but still is concerned about the outcome of the upcoming election.
Celaya is concerned about former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and also feels Vice President Kamala Harris is appeasing conservatives .
“Being someone that doesn’t have voting rights yet (and) has to suffer the consequences of the election, honestly I’m really scared about either of the two outcomes.”
Priorities: Voting, labor rights, immigration, activism
RODNEY WILSON, LANSING, 65
Wilson is a former track coach who is planning to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris because he says he “doesn’t want to go back.”
Wilson grew up in segregated Cleveland and saw first hand how racism limited his parents’ professional opportunities and housing options, despite their high level of education. Seeing his family and community overcome adversity has led him to vote in every election since 1980.
He wants to see the country embrace unity and believes the Biden-Harris administration has taken strides to advance that goal.
“There’s always been this push and pull with the younger generation versus the older generation. But despite all of that we do take younger ideas, we do keep moving forward, we keep trying to be a better country, a more advanced country, a forward-thinking country. It’s always been that way.”
Priorities: Inflation, voting access, women’s rights, education, health care
KASEY HELTON, HOWELL, 47
Helton is a health care worker who is planning to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
From the celebration of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to comments about “childless cat ladies,” Helton says the rhetoric and proposed policies of the Trump-Vance campaign are “anti-woman.” She thinks Trump, and his campaign, are obsessed with painting themselves as victims in the culture wars.
“I think Kamala Harris is a president that is going to move this country forward. There is a future that we need to own and make happen. A positive and bright future.”
Priorities: Women’s reproductive health, social safety net
MIKE STACK, NEWAYGO, 65
Stack is a corporate sales representative who is voting for former President Donald Trump.
As he prepares for retirement, he’s noticed the cost of living has risen over the past few years.
Stack didn’t vote for Trump in the primaries when he was first running for president in 2016. But Trump has earned Stack’s trust in regards to shepherding a strong economy, addressing immigration, and investing in strong national defense.
“There’s three things as far as being an American. First of all God, your family and then this country. It’s your civic duty to get out and vote because if you don’t, you have nothing to complain about.”
Priorities: Economy, inflation, costs, immigration, security
LEENA AMIN, LIVONIA, 24
Amin just finished physician assistant school. She’s Muslim, a democratic socialist, and a mother.
Voting has always been important to Amin, but the current options make it difficult for her to feel good about her vote. She’s leaning toward voting for Vice President Kamala Harris but is still contemplating her decision.
Harris’ demographics matter to Amin – she’s hopeful because Harris is a woman and a person of color.
Since becoming a mom, gun control is a top priority to Amin.
“I just feel like every election through the past decade is, like, you should choose the lesser evil and I’m kind of frustrated with that concept.”
Priorities: Ceasefire in Gaza, gun control, universal health care, college costs
ROBERT SEVERIN (BOB), SAGINAW, 74
Severin is a retired nurse who mainly worked in hospice.
He moved back to Michigan from Colorado in 2016 and plans to vote for former President Donald Trump. He says he had a lot more money during the Trump administration.
Severin is concerned about what diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are being taught in public schools.
Severin was a liberal until the 1990s when he began listening to Rush Limbaugh.
If Vice President Kamala Harris wins, he says he’s done voting.
“If Trump doesn’t win, this country is finished. I really believe that.”
Priorities: Economy, foreign affairs, education
BECKY MCLAUGHLIN, LIVINGSTON COUNTY, 42
McLaughlin is a nurse who is planning to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
McLaughlin is hoping for political stability and seeks a candidate with a more moderate stance. She says Roe v. Wade being overturned also heavily influences what she’s looking for in a candidate.
Her primary reason for voting is the impact she believes this election will have on her children. She wants them to have opportunities like buying a home and securing good jobs.
She says her children’s generation gives her hope. She sees them as more informed and more engaged in politics.
“I live for the future of my children. I want them to live in an environment that’s clean. I want them to be able to go to the doctor and get care. I want them to be happy.”
Priorities: Women’s health, abortion, environment
STELLA MOORE, CHELSEA, 20
Moore is a non-binary student at the University of Michigan who will be voting in their first presidential election. They'll likely be voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.
They’re excited to vote – and felt frustrated during the last election when they couldn’t vote because they were too young.
Moore, who is Jewish, is worried about how the conflict in Palestine is being handled and hopes Harris will call for a ceasefire. They feel conflicted about voting this year because of the Biden/Harris administration's response to the violence in the region. Despite this, they still plan to vote, preferring a candidate who better aligns with their beliefs.
“I think a Trump presidency would make me more nervous to be myself in the biggest way I can be.”
Priorities: health-care access, ceasefire in Gaza, gender and sex-based violence
Melanie Greenfield, Sault Ste. Marie, 52
Greenfield works in a greenhouse and takes on political side-jobs, mainly voter engagement efforts. She is voting for former President Donald Trump as a longtime fan of his views on the economy and immigration.
She is concerned about in-fighting and Christian Nationalism within the Republican party, as well as disaffected people who aren’t interested in voting. She also believes the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.
“Strong communities, strong families, that creates strong national politics. Let’s look and see what we can do in our own backyard.”
Priorities: Voter engagement, Get out the vote efforts
Kevin Ashwood, Detroit, 27
Ashwood is a real-estate advisor and he’s voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.
He says in previous elections, he was just coming out of college and voted with his core values and beliefs. Now he feels the pressures of being an emerging middle class citizen, new homeowner, and new father.
“I think that the message has been muddied in what the American dream is, who deserves to have it and how do you get there.”
Priorities: Policing, universal health care, student debt, taxes
Jessica Mayfield-Ashwood, Detroit, 27
Mayfield-Ashwood is a licensed social worker currently acting as a therapist. She plans to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mayfield-Ashwood is concerned about health care debt and student loan debt, especially interest rates.
The couple had a baby in early September and she worries about the world he will grow up in, with debt and racial profiling. She’s hoping for a world where that isn’t a concern.
“I am hoping for a peaceful election and transition and making sure that everyone is informing themselves during the vote.”
Priorities: Universal health care, policing, racial profiling, student debt