Describing Donald J. Trump’s presidential victory as “the most incredible political feat I have seen in my lifetime,” Wisconsin State Senator Paul Ryan shared similar sentiments as many local residents who were still stunned the morning after the next president elect was named.
“It was a shock,” said lifelong Morgan Hill resident Tim Goodell, 35, a registered Democrat who was enjoying a cup of joe outside a local Starbucks coffeehouse Nov. 9. “I knew it was probably gonna be close. I personally voted for Hillary (Clinton). It was the lesser of two evils in my mind.”
That was not the case for local resident Dan Haroutian, who was sipping on a hot beverage of his own while conversing with Goodell.
“I think we need a person and not a politician. What I heard from Hillary was the same old thing,” said Haroutian, who voted for Trump to be the nation’s 45th president. “It became a trust factor. Trump is not perfect. He has his flaws and baggage. I took that, weighed my conviction and conscience and said give Trump a chance.”
Enough Americans felt the same way as Trump gathered 290 electoral votes (270 are needed for a win) compared to 228 electoral votes for Clinton, the Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State under two-term President Barack Obama.
“Crazy times” is how 25-year-old Chase Wiggins described the Trump victory. But the Morgan Hill resident, who was also savoring a Starbucks beverage with a friend, was at peace with America’s ultimate decision.
“I’m pretty rested. I know God is in control,” Wiggins said. “I was shocked Trump pulled it out…I’m happy for the guy.”
Sitting at the outside table with his buddy, 22-year-old Stefan Mercer, of Gilroy, shared in those sentiments less than 10 hours after Clinton called Trump to concede the election to her opponent.
“I was very shocked, but as Chase said I also feel rested and content,” Mercer said. “I truly believe neither candidate was fit for office.”
There were two other choices with Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party hopeful Gary Johnson also part of the presidential race, although neither was a serious threat as seen in the results.
“First of all, I’m a little scared, but I saw this coming months ago,” said Christine Lovejoy, 30, of south San Jose.
Lovejoy explained that Clinton’s fierce battle in the Democratic primary with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders may have affected her vote count in the presidential election, with his supporters looking to those third-party candidates instead of the party’s nominee.
Voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly supported Clinton with just over 73 percent of 427,494 votes, according to results from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. Trump received about 21.5 percent from county voters.
“I voted for Hillary,” Lovejoy added. “It’s a lot of wait and see what happens (with Trump now).”
Lovejoy’s friend, Shawn McGinn, 42, a Saratoga resident who works in Morgan Hill, was not impressed with how the presidential campaigning was handled by both sides with too much negative commentary.
“I would like to hope that it sunk to such a low that there will be some policies put in place for future debates (to ensure) they will follow the rules of formal debate,” said McGinn, who wanted more issues-oriented arguments instead of personal attacks. “Kids need to see adults arguing in a healthy way.”
Oakland resident Consuelo Crosby, who has owned a rental unit in Morgan Hill for many years, was still digesting the presidential result on her drive into town and stopped at Peet’s Coffeehouse on Cochrane Road.
“It’s a wakeup call for the Millenials to get involved in politics and bring their vision into our government,” said Crosby, who also voted for Clinton.
California, which holds 55 electoral votes, was one of 20 blue states in Clinton’s favor. However, Trump produced 29 red states with New Hampshire and Michigan still too close to call as of Nov. 9, according to CNN.com reports.
