With the Nov. 3 midterm election just days away, the state of the economy, healthcare and medical costs stand out as issues that matter most for 101 Oakland University students who participated in a recent poll.
The survey also found broad support for U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed among those who named a preferred candidate. A strong intention to vote was observed, along with widespread distrust of political advertising.
Students in “JMS 3000, News Reporting and Editing” surveyed students from Oct. 6–13 on campus — gathering responses representing a wide range of majors and graduation years.
Economy, government and healthcare
Students were asked to identify up to three top issues — from a list of 11 trending topics — that informed their thinking about the midterm elections. They were also given the option to answer “unsure” or “other.” Economy, cost of living and federal spending topped respondents’ concerns — cited by 59.4% of those surveyed — followed closely by healthcare topics, including medical costs and public health matters, at 39.6%.
“As a college student who lives on campus, I already have a lot to pay for,” Matthew Medrano, a junior business major, said. “For example, groceries, tuition, car payment, housing and gas.”
Medrano said he looks for candidates who can “help the economy and cost of living the best way possible.”
Serina Mariani, a senior studying sociology alongside public relations and advertising, said she would vote for a candidate who can change the current trajectory of the economy.
“The federal government is using our tax money to fund their own political propaganda and to fund war, all while these actions and current trade policies are significantly increasing the cost of living,” she said.
“It is important to me that I vote for a congressional candidate that will bring opposition to these laws,” she added.
Javiar Rosario, a senior public administration major, pointed out that economic challenges are a non-partisan problem.
“No matter what political affiliation someone has, if they cannot afford to live, they cannot afford to progress in their life,” he said.
Candidate preferences
El-Sayed was referenced most often among students who identified a candidate preference, receiving 34 mentions (33.67%). Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson received three mentions (2.97%) and Republican gubernatorial candidate John James and Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers each received two mentions (1.9%).
However, 50 of the 101 respondents (49.5%) did not express support for a particular candidate. Furthermore, many of those surveyed either had not settled on their preferred candidate or did not identify one. Some, like master’s student Michael Lipinski, described themselves as a “swing voter,” or weren’t aligned with either party.
Those who did disclose a preference articulated their perceptions of the chosen candidate’s character, credibility and position on the issues most relevant in their lives.
El-Sayed retained support from students due to his position on eliminating tax cuts for billionaires and improving affordability for Michiganders.
Other students suggested a preference for El-Sayed beyond his policies, noting their perception of his ability to connect with constituents.
“Abdul El-Sayed has that character to do very well in the entertainment aspect with his speaking skills, but his heart is still for the people,” Ridha Al Minshidawi, a sophomore cybersecurity major, said. “Basically, he’s playing their game and beating them.”
Theatre major Amber Horton appreciates El-Sayed’s position about the judicial system.
“There are too many people in the system who haven’t done anything horrible,” Horton said. “They just keep you for such a long, torturous time, and then they throw you out and expect you to live a normal life, so I just love how he cares about that.”
A combined total of four students expressed support for Mike Rogers, who is running for U.S. Senate, and current candidate for governor Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township). Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic candidate for governor, received two mentions.
“He seems interested in having secure elections; he also wants to improve the economy and affordability. He also supports better education as well. These are some things I like that he seems to advocate for,” Daniel Perisco, a senior majoring in public relations advertising, said when asked about candidate James.
Voter engagement
Besides students’ busy schedules, over half of those surveyed are planning to head to the polls this November.
Many, however, advise each other to perform more research on the candidates ahead of the midterm election and to vote for whom they personally support.
“Don’t let anyone tell you who to vote for and definitely look into who you’re voting for, because at the end of the day your vote does matter and it’s important to know what and who you are voting for,” Medrano added.
“This election will be a dress rehearsal for the 2028 election and the future of the two parties,” Rosario said. “I think everyone should vote no matter what.”
Low trust in political advertisements
Just over 77% of surveyed students noted that they had little to no trust in political advertisements. Only seven students said that they somewhat trusted political ads, while six others did not share their opinions.
Makenzie Wood, a senior majoring in human resources, said she gets information about politics from TikTok and local news. She expressed distrust in political advertisements because she believes they fail to answer important questions.
Senior cybersecurity major Justin Klippstein, meanwhile, was vocal about his hatred for political advertisements.
“[I] don’t trust them at all,” he said.
Klippstein also believes that political advertisements can be full of disinformation, and about 78% of the group surveyed shared his distrust.
Many of them instead expressed a preference to learn about the election through discussions with peers, friends and family and consulting online news sources.
Distinctions by graduation year
A clear majority of the 101 students surveyed expressed a positive intent to participate in the upcoming midterm election.
Within this group of likely voters, enthusiasm is strong: 58 students (57.4%) stated they “definitely will vote,” while another 11 students (10.9%) reported that they “probably will vote.”
While 15 students (14.8%) said they definitely or probably will not vote, others stated that they are unable to vote due to their age, immigration status or being registered as voters in another state.
The majority nonetheless perceive the issues at stake in this year’s midterms as important.
Danny Phaup, a freshman pre-music major, puts it simply, “This is slated to be one of the biggest elections of our lives.”
Story contributors: Armando Deleon, Gehrig Hicks, Madeline Kaplantzes, Angie Leonard, Natalie Leydet, Maryam Moss, Paige O’Connell, Brittany Scruggs, Isabella O’Mara and Anikya Whitmer. Lead editor: Maryam Moss.
A Trusted Source of Independent Student Journalism since 1987.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Costs and care: Economy and health top OU students’ concerns in midterm election survey – The Oakland Post
Leave a Comment
