Thousands of voters across the Eastside headed to the polls on Election Day to cast their ballots in a series of consequential races.
Some were excited to be voting for the first time, while others couldn’t help but be overcome with anxiety about the results.
Live election results: The race for president, CD 14 and more
While Leticia Malagon was excited to vote in person with her daughter at the Boyle Heights Senior Center, she was worried about how the presidential race would turn out.
“[Trump] has divided us so much, and we want the first female president. I know she’s gonna pull ahead,” said the Harris supporter.
It may take days or even weeks to get results in California, largely because the state works so hard to expand the ways people can vote, according to LAist.
That may add to the anxiety people are feeling.
Longtime community activist Carlos Montes said his emotions were high due to the election.
“That’s why I’m doing my yoga and exercises,” Montes said. “I’m anxious and afraid that Trump may win again. I didn’t think he was going to win eight years ago and he won.”
For Bob Arellano, 76, the teachings of the Bible strongly influenced his conservative choices at the polls, he said. The East L.A. resident stopped by Malabar Street Elementary School Monday afternoon to vote as he has in every election.
“Abortion is one of the biggest things. I have great-great-grandchildren so I’m against [abortion]. Kamala is not against it so I have to go the other way,” Arellano said.
Boyle Heights resident Stephanie Lechuga went to vote at Tenrikyo Church on 1st Street early in the morning on Election Day. Accompanied by her husband, young daughter and another child on the way, she said this election is all about making sure her children have the future they deserve.
“It’s really exciting to come out and vote today, it’s important to show up for your community because that’s where you’re living… I’m thinking about [my children’s] future… It’s all about the next generation of kids.”
Also at Tenrikyo Church, Jimena Jiménez said she saw voting as a duty to not just herself, but to her family who could not vote due to their citizenship status. Her sister, who was a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, recently died so she was never able to vote. Jiménez said she was voting in her honor, too.
“I’m the first person in my family’s history to be able to vote in the U.S., and they’ve lived here for over 30 years. So being the first one made me feel emotional. It made me feel brave that I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for my family and for people who are not able to vote,” Jiménez said.
The 20-year-old Boyle Heights resident said the election has taken a toll on her mental health. She said she hardly slept the night before.
“I was emotional watching TikTok videos about the election. It was a lot of stress, but I’m hopeful,” she said.
Boyle Heights resident Brian Nicolas-Espinoza came to the polling place after an early morning shift at work. The 29-year-old said he was considering the war in the Middle East but was trying to make the best decision and not just cast a “protest vote.” Although he didn’t outright voice support for Harris, a win from Trump worried him.
“I’m still getting familiar with politics, but still, [a Trump presidency] would be pretty devastating for a lot of people of color and women,” Nicola-Espinoza said. “We all, as a collective, have to try to divert the prejudice and everything that the [Republican] party supports.”
