Horizon asked students and faculty around campus about their thoughts and feelings surrounding the election before and after Tuesday, Nov. 5. They shared their perspectives and experiences leading up to the election and their resulting opinions and concerns after Donald Trump was confirmed the 47th President of the United States. With the majority of the popular and Electoral College votes, Trump will now become the first president to win two nonconsecutive terms since Grover Cleveland. His historic win prompted mixed reactions from the Sidwell community, ranging from apathy to devastation.
Before
“I went door knocking this past Sunday with my family in Pennsylvania. One thing I noticed is that there were many more Trump signs than Harris signs, and a lot of people voting for Harris just didn’t have anything … It was so split that it was kind of shocking, so now I’m very emotionally invested in Pennsylvania.” – Gabi Green ’25
“I’m pretty hopeful that a lot of the young voters are more educated and especially with social media that more people will be learning more about the candidates.” – Lucie Fellowes ’25
“I think Kamala has a really good chance of winning especially because she appeals to a lot of people, especially younger people, but at the same time a lot of those younger people are not able to vote.” – Sophie Haar ’26
“I’m optimistic about where this country is going, and I’m seeing a lot of positive things and people moving in the right direction.” – Sadie Johnson ’26
“I know the election is going to be pretty close and I am feeling very anxious, but I am still hopeful and I think there is hope for Kamala Harris to pull through.”
“I have a lot of hope for what our country can be and the direction that we can grow into and to benefit not only me personally but everyone.” – Lexi Orr ’26
“Overall I’m feeling anxiety but also hopeful … I think I did what I could do. I volunteered and helped get out the vote and I worked at early voting in Virginia as a volunteer, which was really fun.” – Chorus Teacher Sarah Markovits
“I think the future of America is at stake.” – Annica Nassiry ’25
“Trump has a lot of influence, but I’m really hopeful and confident that [Harris] can win.”
After
“I am very saddened and devastated.” – Ella Song ’26
“After the election, I’m disappointed in the lack of how many single issue voters there were and how that influenced their decision instead of more of the broad picture.” – Lucie Fellowes ’25
“I’m a little scared for our future not knowing what’s at stake for me and people like me, but also our country in general, regarding foreign affairs and also basic human rights.” – Lexi Orr ’26
“I first checked the election results after I got back from practice and it was mostly red, but I was like, it’s fine – they are just counting the Republican votes right now, the Democratic votes will come through. They in fact did not come through and I woke up the next morning to Trump winning, and I was just really upset about it, it still has ruined my day and I’m just scared for what he’s gonna do… I want to keep my rights.” – Sophia Douoguih ’26
“Personally for me, a lot of my family is in India and not able to come to the country because there isn’t enough space due to so many illegal immigrants coming into the country.” – Rajan Khanna ’26
“I wasn’t surprised by the results. I watched the polls but it was a pretty normal night for me.” – AJ Greenberg ’26
“I’m not exactly happy that the House and Senate have gone Republican. I don’t think that’s good for democracy. For the presidential results, I personally think that it was the right choice because of my traditional Christian values, and I was not surprised by the results.”
“After the election, I’m just simply devastated and confused and honestly just shocked at how our country is moving backwards and how the fabric of our nation and democracy is completely going to be demolished.” – Lucy Verma ’26
“I wasn’t stuck to the TV because I didn’t want to get disappointed but I ended up going home and I went to sleep, which was my mistake … I woke up and I was like, oh my God this is really bad … I’m disappointed in America, not the East Coast though, they did what they needed to do. I’m disappointed in the southern states.”
“I’m just shocked, honestly shocked is the only word I can give you and it really has not processed yet.”
“I think to just remind people that America’s dealing with deeply rooted systemic problems and that change has only really been going since around the 60’s and that’s not that long ago. So I think I am just trying to hold onto the feeling of ‘we don’t know how it will turn out’ and all we can do is continue to be a part of the nation as best as we can, as productively as we can.”
