For many students, this year will be the first year that they can vote. Sophomore education major, Tricia Stocker, said, “This is my first election I have ever been able to vote for, so I really feel like it is my job to pay close attention to it so that I can make an educated decision when it comes times to vote.”
There are 22 candidates run- ning in this years 2016 presi- dential primary campaign. 17 candidates are running for the Republican party. There are five candidates running for the Democratic party.
In the lead for the Demo- cratic party is Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is the former secretary of state for President Obama’s administration as well as a former first lady. She is married to former President Bill Clinton. If Hillary becomes President, she will become the first female President.
Clinton’s competition is a 75-year-old senator of Vermont, Bernie Sanders. He has served in the House of Representatives for 16 years and is running be- side Clinton. Recent polls have showed that Clinton is in the lead over Sanders; however, by the most recent polls, Sanders may have the slight lead in the early primary states.
In the lead for the Repub- lican Party is real estate mo- gul Donald Trump. Trump is well-known in America due to his empire of businesses. He is also known for his shows,”The Apprentice” and “The Celebrity Apprentice.”
Trump has been involved in politics since 1987. Trump had a commanding lead with 35 percent support; however, due to his controversial comments, he has dropped in recent polls.
“Trump has run before and fallen,” sophomore political science major, Owen Johnson, said. “He is just very entertain- ing to watch.”
The Republican candidate that is giving Trump a run for his money is a man by the name of Ben Carson. He is a retired pediatric neurosurgeon from Detroit, Michigan. Carson made a rising in the latest polls for his comments about the border. In recent polls, Donald Trump was at 30 percent and Ben Carson was at 18 percent.
This years presidential polls are just starting out. But it is never too early to be informed.
