Voters OK pot, school bond

Surprising victory by Trump also led to Republicans holding edge in Congress.

Brian Chang, News Editor

For weeks, analysts on both sides of the aisle were predicting results ranging anywhere from a landslide to a hard-fought victory, with Hillary Clinton always managing to find herself on top.

However, after an intensely fought presidential race, Donald Trump blew past all expectations and found himself as head of the nation.

Despite having won the popular vote, Clinton was unable to clinch the electoral votes needed to become president, with only 228.

This is the fifth instance in U.S. history that the candidate with the most votes has not won the presidency, with the last case being in the 2000 Bush vs. Gore election. About 53 percent of eligible voters submitted ballots on Election Day.

In his acceptance speech, Trump reached out to all Americans, saying “now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division; have to get together.

To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.”

Clinton was unable to repeat Obama’s victories in Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, which swung to the Republican side.

Additionally, Trump was able to swing Florida, designated a key state by both parties. He had won 279 votes as of Nov. 9 and had a projected victory in 30 states.

In Ohio, Trump’s appeals to areas hard hit by the loss of American manufacturing jobs due to trade deals like the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement and the Trans Pacific Partnership paid off, netting him a win by almost nine percentage points.

More worrisome for Democrats is their loss in Congress. The Republican party triumphed in the Senate with 51 seats and gained even more ground in the House, with 239 seats, as of Nov. 9.

In California’s first open Senate seat election in 24 years, Democrat Kamala Harris was elected to replace the retiring Barbara Boxer in the Senate.

Voters also had the opportunity to share their opinions on various statewide propositions.

Notable results include the legalization of marijuana for recreational and medical use; the continuation of the death penalty, along with a bill to speed up the process; a ban on single-use plastic bags; increased restrictions on firearms and a cigarette tax.

Marijuana was legalized with a 56 percent approval rate and California follows in the footsteps of Washington and Colorado.

Additionally, Bond Measure WV, meant to upgrade classrooms and technology for schools in the Walnut Valley Unified School District, was passed by 64 percent of voters. More information about the bond and its effects can be found at dbbullseye.com.

Diamond Bar High School alumna Ling Ling Chang is currently two percentage points ahead of her Democratic opponent Josh Newman in her bid to be elected to the state Senate.

As of Nov. 9, the race was still too close to call. Chang has promised to propose a compromise for the District of Choice situation if elected and has been working with other Assembly members.