After taking a student vote at the Involvement Fair, the UConn College Democrats found that Bernie Sanders led the way, receiving 29 percent of the votes taken. Photo from The Associated Press
Though there are still over seven months until Democratic primary voters cast their ballots in Connecticut, election season is in full swing for the twenty Democrats vying to challenge President Trump’s reelection bid next year.
As candidates seek to win the crucial youth vote — one which electrified the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016 — it is worth noting where University of Connecticut students currently stand on Connecticut’s April 28 Democratic primary.
Joe Biden, projected national front-runner, received only four percent of votes among UConn students, putting to question his status in the race. Photo from The Associated Press.
The UConn College Democrats conducted a straw poll at last week’s Involvement Fair to sample students’ support of each candidate.
Of the eighty-nine votes cast, Sen. Bernie Sanders received 29 percent, closely trailed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 25 percent and Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 17 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden, widely considered to be the national front-runner, won just 4 percent. Businessman Andrew Yang and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard won 6 percent and 4 percent respectively. Other candidates received 2 percent or less.
Despite the highly contested field, College Democrats president Diamantis Datil says her group has held together and emphasized the importance of party unity heading into 2020.
“We don’t ever fight over who we want to be the candidate at this point,” Datil said. “We’re all so excited about the candidates and we think they all have something great to offer.”
Anna Holland, UConn student and campus coordinator for conservative group Turning Point USA, remains confident in President Trump’s reelection chances.
“My prediction is that Warren will get the nomination and give Trump a good fight, but I don’t think she has what it takes to beat him,” Holland said. “These candidates are very far removed from reality, and their plans aren’t even close to aligning with reality.”
Though the College Democrats and Turning Point USA are watching the Democratic primaries unfold, some UConn students aren’t yet paying close attention to the race.
“I’m not paying very close attention, although I have watched one debate,” said Brendon Egan, a third-semester allied health sciences major and fan of Biden. “I’m happy to see that there’s some good candidates that are ready to go up against Trump.”
Thumbnail photo credited to The Associated Press.
Nick Carbone is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at nicholas.carbone@uconn.edu.
