Vote 2018
New Team for Project Vote 2018 Spring Edition
Spring 2018 is the second of three semesters for Project Vote 2018: The Future of America. This time, we’re simply calling it Vote 2018 Spring Edition. This is the latest partnership between PalacioMagazine.com and the Political Science classes of Professor Som Chounlamountry at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).
As we explained last Fall, the campaign for 2018 mid-term Congressional and Senatorial elections began on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. There 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33 Senate seats and all 435 House seats) up for election on November 6, 2018. The website run by Nate Silver, fivethirtyeight.com, has been tracking polls over whether Democrats can retake the House next year. If the election were held today, Democrats would come out on top, 46.8% versus 37.9%. Not exactly a majority or an overwhelming win. Check out the poll HERE and you’ll see how the percentages have been swinging up and down.
The students in Professor Chounlamountry’s Fall class tackled the races in three states: Michigan, Nevada, and Arizona. For Vote 2018 Spring Edition, we’re continuing our look at the fascinating races in Nevada and Arizona but this time around we’re adding three Congressional races in Orange County, California.
Here are the teams for Vote 2018 Spring Edition who will be tackling the continuing coverage of all these races. Their stories are expected to be posted in June 2018.
Vote 2018 Spring Edition: Battleground California Congressional Races
For Vote 2018 Spring Edition, this group of students will be focused on the three battleground races in Orange County. The Republican incumbents in two of those races (39th and 49th) have announced that they will not seek reelection in 2018. A third Congressional race, 48th, was rated a Toss-up by media outlets.
- Jason Boze II is a Political Science Major with a concentration on Law & Policy major with an AA in political science expecting to graduate Spring 2018. His career goal is to become a lawyer, either criminal or contract, and own his own law firm. If not, continue to run the software firm he works for or other businesses. Outside of school, he enjoys playing video games, reading political literature, traveling & spending time with friends and family.
- Kelley Myers is also a Political Science major with Law and Public Policy thrown in. Myers expects to graduate in Spring 2019. She has an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies, she’s set her sights on a Bachelor’s Degree from CSULB and hopes to pursue a Master’s degree afterward. Myer’s career goals include working in either the area of policymaking or law. In her free time, she enjoys watching any TV show that involves either law, courtrooms, or political drama. She also enjoys traveling to experience different cultures and food.
- Jacqueline Peña is a third-year student at CSULB with a double major specializing in Political Science as well as Chicano and Latino/a studies. She’s expected to graduate in the Fall of 2018. Peña aspires to be an attorney. In her free time (she has free time?), she enjoys watching the Television Show Scandal and catching the games at Dodger Stadium.
- Ramon Iniguez is a transfer student from El Camino Community College with an AA in the arts. This is his second semester at CSULB where he is majoring in Political Science. Iniguez is expecting to graduate in the Spring of 2019. He confesses that “Currently I am not too excited or motivated with my major, but I’m almost done.” This young man has an interesting career goal, “My goal is to go pro in bodybuilding.” Iniguez says he goes to the gym every day for about three hours. “When I grow older, hopefully, I can obtain my IFBB (International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness) Pro card.” Iniguez adds, “That will truly satisfy me and make me happy.” This year, the full-time student carrying 15 units plans on competing in men’s amateur physique with the National Physique Committee (NPC). This is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States.
- Conny Ramirez is a Political Science and Chicanx/Latinx Studies double major with a projected May 2018 graduation. “In the near future, I would like to get involved with local politics and maybe even run for office in my hometown for city council member and then mayor.” Her immediate goal after graduation is to intern in the Los Angeles Mayor’s office or with a nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrants’ rights such as Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles or Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition. “Ultimately, I’d just like to do something that benefits my community.” In her free time, Ramirez enjoys watching sports and is looking forward to the World Cup this summer to cheer on the Mexican National Soccer team.
- Sopheak Ko: No information available.
Vote 2018 Spring Edition: Nevada
- Manal Fatima is a History Major with a Political Science Minor. After graduating in May 2019, she would like to attend Law School with a goal of becoming a civil rights attorney. Some of Fatima’s hobbies include volunteering with children, training at the gym for marathons, and exploring new cafes for the best cup of coffee.
- Yahya Stith-Stewart is majoring in Political Science (Global Politics). Career goals after this May 2018 graduation are the Foreign Service/Embassy work with the U.S. State Department. Stith-Stewart’s casual time is spent on Music composition/appreciation, casual gaming, and Cafe culture ethnography (That sounds interesting).
- Kenny Nguyen is majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Law, Politics, and Policy (LPP) with a minor in Sociology. He’s planning on graduating in the Fall of 2019 or Spring 2020. Nguyen is interested in working for city/state government on governmental policy and public issues. “I hope to help people that live in impoverished cities better their standard of living. Another area of interest to me is lobbying on environmental and educational issues.” After graduation, he might pursue graduate school in either Urban Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration or Political Science. Leisure time includes watching YouTube videos on political commentary, hanging out with family and friends, new restaurants to try new food and watching new movies.
- Benjamin Goldstein is a Political Science major who expects to graduate December of 2018. “I don’t exactly know what I want to do when I am done with school but I would like it to be in the political field and possibly in the area of advocating for Israel.” In his spare time, Benjamin watches Dodgers or Laker games as well as movies.
- Andrew Jimenez is a Business Economics major with a graduation goal of Spring 2019. His future career goals include working for the World Bank “to help undeveloped countries prosper” and a position with the Federal Reserve Bank “to assist the growth of the United States.” Beer tasting, making family and friends laugh.
Vote 2018 Spring Edition: Arizona
- Chris Heffernan is graduating Spring 2019 as a Political Science Major. He intends to put that degree to work coordinating political campaigns. “I follow politics extremely closely and I am always trying to stay on top of day to day happenings around the world.” Heffernan is minoring in Computer Science, so he’s “…very involved in computers and video games.” A big Los Angeles Kings fan, he loves watching and playing hockey.
- Emilee Palau is a Political Science major graduating this semester, Spring 2018. “I’m not completely confident of what I want to pursue after graduation, but I know I will figure it out. I have a huge interest and heart for people and I care a lot about justice.” The two main options she’s exploring is working for a non-profit or going to law school. When she has free time, she watches the newest movies as well as watching makeup videos on YouTube and goes on hikes.
- Bri LaTendresse is an International Studies major with a goal to work in the Foreign Service with the Department of State or USAID. She expects to graduate May 2018. Pastimes include traveling, “I was able to spend the summer in Dakar, Senegal and hope to travel more in Africa.”
- Christian Valenzuela is majoring in History and expects to graduate in Spring 2019 or as he says, “Woo!” Valenzuela plans on attending law school with modest goals, “I want to become a successful lawyer in the entertainment business or government.” He can use his hobby to prepare him for the rough and tumble world of Law. Valenzuela watches Mixed Martial Arts and is a “huge Conor McGregor fan.”
- Michael Wood plans to graduate this semester as a Political Science major. His career goal is to be a plaintiff’s attorney. He’s getting good practice. Wood “…enjoys comedy and performs stand up at open mics from time to time.” He’s also a fiction writer who is currently working on a book.
Photo for Christian Valenzuela not available.
