Delaware students choose Clinton, Carney
Shields fifth-grader Dylan Baker remembers little from the 2012 presidential election, so this year's contentious race leading up to the Nov. 8 election has been an eye-opener.
“I've been surprised at some of the things that have been said,” Dylan said.
With the end in sight, fifth-grader Nevie Hagen said she can't wait.
“I'll be glad when it's over,” she said. “It seems like America is breaking apart.”
Nevie said some of the presidential rhetoric has creeped into the hallways of Shields Elementary. “I try to put it aside, but you hear things at recess or in the hallways,” she said.
A week before the real-life presidential election, students at Shields and across the county participated in a mock election. Nevie and some of her classmates helped students with voting at the school.
“I like that students have a say in it,” said Lindsay D'Ambrogi.
Aidan Block said he thinks voting on school-issued iPads is cool. The votes were tabulated by school and then by state. In Delaware, students voted for president, a U.S. congressional representative, governor, lieutenant governor and insurance commissioner.
At Milton Elementary, students voted on laptops. Two voting booths were set up in the auditorium surrounded by curtains for privacy.
Fifth-grader Amelia Phelps said she has had enough of the election. “I wouldn't choose either of them,” she said.
Fifth-grader Oscar Hagman said he remembers going to vote with his father in 2012, and he has kept up with the news this election season. “I like the political part,” he said.
Oscar said he plans to watch the returns on election night, but welcomes an end to the political rhetoric.
“I'll be glad that we won't have to deal with the rough insulting anymore,” he said.
About 2,600 students from all seven of Cape Henlopen’s schools voted in the mock election. Their votes were totaled Nov. 4 with 50,000 votes from school districts across the state. Delaware’s blue state status prevailed, with Democratic wins down the board. Hillary Clinton took 28,264 votes to Donald Trump’s 15,124. U.S. House of Representatives candidate Lisa Blunt Rochester beat Republican Hans Reigle 21,832-13,591; John Carney beat Colin Bonini 21,606-14,458 for governor; Bethany Hall-Long won lieutenant governor over LaMar Gunn, 25,877-18,290; and in the closest race, Trinidad Navarro beat Jeff Cragg for insurance commissioner, 24,691-19,747.
Cape Henlopen mirrored state results except in the lieutenant governor and insurance commissioner races. By two votes, LaMar Gunn beat Bethany Hall Long, 1,230-1,228 while Jeff Cragg beat Trinidad Navarro, 1,332-1,146.
The race for president and governor were also close. Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by 10 votes, 1,162-1,132 and John Carney beat Colin Bonini for governor, 1,021-1,016. In the congressional race, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester beat Republican Hans Reigle, 1,048-978.
