UNITED STATES – With the dust now settling on a historic U.S. Midterm Election, some U.S. residents are focusing on what could have possibly contributed to several states turning blue.
Here’s what they had to say.
For Utah resident Arianna Jennings – who majored in political science – these elections are a sign of shifting voter priorities, with broader implications Americans and Bahamians.
From immigration and climate policy to U.S.-Bahamas relations, she believes many Bahamians should be paying close attention to what’s next.
“We’ve seen this government take away benefits like smart, um, as simple as education, the education department being minimized and funding the downsized. So really and truly, these states changing, let me know that people can no longer hold loyalty, that we are no longer looking at a election based on Democrats or Republicans or, might they say white or black, women or men? We’re literally seeing an election where the people are weing, the policies against their livelihoods, and how they will survive tomorrow.”
Bahamian political analyst McKelton Johnson watched the historic democratic win in Texas, his home state, while attending a watch party election night.
He witnessed the atmosphere move from hopeful optimism, to gleeful celebrations.
He believes this democratic blue wave, now giving the dems control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, could signal aa shift in priorities as well.
He says conversations throughout the night reflected a growing appetite for change.
“Stacey Abrams tried to do a few years ago and was unfortunately defeated. But now we have Gina for Texas I call her because that’s what she’s known as now she’s been coined as Gina for Texas. She is the Governor of Texas now and she’s a Latina American right so it goes to show that there is change amounting. Now I look at The Bahamas and say okay are we looking towards putting a female candidate out there for prime Minister?”
Georgia resident Dr. Mikelle Newry-Coleby, has lived in the U.S. since 1993 and for her, the election results hit close to home.
Having spent much of the past three decades living and working in Georgia, she says the outcome could eventually have positive implications for The Bahamas.
She says its’ also a win for African-American women and other candidates of color and races.
“And this is amazing, because they are all African American women, which it speaks volumes to how, you know, we here in the US feel. Texas, it was just a shocker to just turn blue. It was just, you know, I’m still in awe that Texas turned blue.“
