Voters describe their candidate, emotions

It’s been 20 months since Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) kicked off the 2016 presidential campaign, and 19 months since Democrat Hillary Clinton announced that she was running for president.

Much has changed since then, from the field of candidates, to voters’ feelings about those candidates, to voters’ emotional state regarding the election itself.

ABC-7 talked to voters outside Fire Station 22 in West El Paso, asking them to describe the candidate they voted for without naming them, and to explain how they felt while casting their ballot.

“(I voted for) the first woman president,” Gracie Lawrence said. Lawrence voted early, she said, so she could carry signs for Hillary Clinton outside the polling place on Election Day.

She was joined by Jeanette Walker, who told ABC-7, “I voted for the first woman president of the United States.”

Both women donned white shirts in honor of the suffragists who wore white as they campaigned for a woman’s right to vote in the early 1900s.

Gabriel Mansouraty was deliberate in describing his choice for president. “They have our faith, experience, and not bullying the people,” he added after a pause and a deliberate expression on his face.

Vikki Deiter had no problem telling ABC-7 how she voted. “I voted for Donald Trump,” she said. “I think the last 8 years have been horrible for the little people. I’m one of those.”

Alfredo Gonzalez started off describing his candidate by saying, “He actually has more traditional Republican values. He is not Donald Trump,” he added, before saying he voted for independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin.

One voter who did not identify himself also didn’t vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. “I don’t know much about him, but I hate the other ones,” he said.

The voters had mixed emotions coming out of the polling place.

“My conscience is at peace,” Gonzalez said. “I’m happy about that.”

“I felt really proud to be able to vote, not only for a woman, but for a person who is really well qualified,” Walker said. Lawrence agreed with her, saying, “I felt good about voting for someone who’s very qualified and down-to-earth.”

“I’m excited for having some change,” Monsouraty told ABC-7.

“(I feel) really good,” Deiter said. “Proud to be an American, proud to stand by Israel and to be one of the forces in the world for good.”

The sentiments of the unnamed voter likely shared by many others when he said, “I’m so glad it’s over.”