'I'm Feeling Nauseous': Brief Chats With Women Voters in New York City

By Ellie Shechet & Anna Merlan | November 8, 2016 | 9:55pm

Politics

It’s Election Day in New York City, which means that both presidential candidates are prowling the streets and your Slot reporters are working ourselves into a near-nervous meltdown about whether a chewed-up glow stick from the clogged toilet of an abandoned casino is somehow going to win this thing.

Instead of being alone with our thoughts, we hit the streets to talk to a few women about how they voted and how they’re feeling.

Michelle Adams, 59, personal trainer

“Of course I’m voting for Hillary Rodham Clinton! All we can do is just be patient, and know that she will come out on top. You can’t think any other way. I’m not worried, but I’ve been very aware. I’ll ask people about the polls, since I’m not watching it, and I just hope that the country isn’t that sick that they will put him in office. I can’t imagine—I guess that’s why I’m not worried, I just can’t imagine it happening. He doesn’t care about us.”

Bobbie, 44, bartender and comedian

“I voted for Jill Stein. I wasn’t nuts about Hillary, although I don’t think she’s any more corrupt than anybody else in history. If anything I do believe that she’d do a great job, because she’s under more scrutiny than I think anybody ever has been. But I believe we need more parties, more options. I know [Stein] is not going to win, but I wanted to see the Green Party get some funding. But if I were in a swing state I would’ve voted for Hillary. People who try to guilt me or make me feel bad about it, regarding ‘spoilers,’ they don’t understand how the electoral college works.

I feel okay today. A little anxious. I’m looking forward to the day being over. I’ve seen a lot of negativity with my friends, we’ve had to remind each other more than once we’re friends here and on the same side.

The environment really does need to be our priority. Everyone’s worried about money. And I did really well in the first Clinton administration. But we have to look at the bigger picture, which is about more than how we can do for ourselves. We need to look at more sustainable jobs, cleaning up our environment, dealing with our infrastructure, free education. These are the things I want my money to go towards. This wasn’t just a protest vote, although people saw it that way.”

Eva, 20, Student

“I’m not really involved in politics, I just don’t want Trump. [I haven’t been anxious] unless I really start thinking about it, and then I get kind of angry and annoyed. I’m not all gung-ho about it, but I still care, and don’t want the worst possible outcome—but that’s about it for me. Some of [my friends] really don’t care at all. A lot of my friends don’t really like either candidate, but Trump seems far worse.”

Kay B., 44, Nanny (not pictured)

“I’m from Barbados and not a citizen, so I can’t vote. I would vote for Hillary Clinton. [Donald Trump’s comments about immigrants] made me feel… how would I put it? Disgusted, but also to me it just shows his ignorance, because this country was built on immigrants. And immigrants aren’t just Mexicans, you know? His wives are not American-born. Without anyone having to pin it on him, it just shows how racist he is, and biased, in my opinion.

I think it really shows the pulse of the country, that there are so many people who are hiding, they pretend—obviously as a black woman and an immigrant, it shows me that there are so many people who don’t recognize our importance in this country, and that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

Even if Hillary wins, just his disposition, the statements he’s made about not conceding, the attitude of his supporters—him not winning, I feel there’s going to be trouble. And if he wins, I think there’s going to be trouble internationally.”

Juana Figueroa, 65, grocery store employee

[In Spanish] “I think Hillary would be a very good president. Donald Trump is crazy! No good. I’m not nervous, I think Hillary will win.”

Stef, 28, digital marketing manager

“This morning, I went to a gym class with a lot of really awesome ladies who were lifting each other up—I think there were a lot of people who were feeling really negative, and scared, but we’re all feeling good now. I think.

I haven’t had that much anxiety, but I’m living in the Park Slope, Brooklyn bubble, so I’ve surrounded myself with people who have been into Hillary kind of from the start. I’m originally from Connecticut, so going home and seeing a bunch of Trump signs was definitely a wake-up call for me.”

Abby Bender, 25, freelance writer (not pictured)

“I feel pretty good about it. I’ve had moments of getting nervous, but I’m pretty sure Hillary is going to win. [Donald Trump’s pussy-grabbing comments] were disgusting, but then again, he did so many other disgusting things, I couldn’t be surprised. Like when he made fun of that disabled reporter? And that whole ‘locker room talk’ line? What does that even mean?

I would rather it be Bernie, but I’m happy to vote for Hillary. What’s really scary to me is that the racist, misogynistic people who supported him are still going to have those ideas.”

Liv, 58, retired pig farmer from Spain

“It’s been a little crazy. They don’t talk about the real things, they’re hitting one another all the time. They need to talk about the interests of the American people.

[If I could vote] it would be Hillary, I guess. One is talking bad about people and the other, with all that propaganda and the emails and one things, they’re not very nice. With Hillary, I think it’ll be OK. I hope she does a good job.”

Cat Love, 54, computer programmer and part-time home health aide

“I’m from a military family. I was born in Germany but came back to the States when I was two years old. My father is an African-American slave descendent from North Carolina. My mother is from Seoul, North Korea.

I’m going to vote Independent. I’m going to vote for myself. Neither one of them represent my conservative values, which are overhauling the economy, making certain everyone can take care of themselves and their family members, making certain we have excellent retirement benefits and overhauling the internet. Separating the different services that they push together into one service. I’m going to also run for New York City mayor, but I’m going to jump on the GOP ticket. They represent my Christian values. I’m Bible Fellowship, but I have attended Catholic school before. I’ve yet to really pin myself down to a church.

I just don’t like the way that [Hillary] represents women. She doesn’t represent my style of politics. I’m a feminist but [Hillary] hasn’t been holding a very feminine agenda, telling Melania her husband was cheating on her… It was Hillary and the media, showing all these women. I personally could not do that to another woman.”

Eileen Katz, 53, cheesemonger

“I voted Democrat all the way. Can I tell you the irony? My voting site was a Trump building on the Upper West Side. I just am endlessly shocked by the immaturity and the irresponsibility of everything that comes out of [Donald Trump’s] mouth.

I voted for Hillary in the primaries too. But I keep coming back to how the press is spinning it, as ‘the two most unlikable candidates.’ He is far more so than her. Hillary’s emails—it was a mistake. She should have known better. But then I step back and think, who would want to run for public office today? I think her heart is in the right place, her head is in the right place, and she truly wants to make this country a better place for women and children.

I’m feeling nauseous today. I’ll watch the election results for a few hours, but I can’t watch the whole run. I’m glad I’m here today and I don’t have my radio on.”