There was one word on the lips of most voters in Los Angeles on election day.
Change.
“We need a change,” said Alex Escobar, a teacher, who voted in Van Nuys early Tuesday for Republican Steve Hilton for governor.
Escobar has voted Democrat in previous elections.
“There’s been eight consecutive years of the same. Nothing has changed. There’s always promises made from the Democratic Party, and nothing is ever changed.”
“They always talk back on the statements that they do,” he said.
“The state of California has got to change. The city of Los Angeles has got to change.”
Photographer Artin Malian agreed with Escobar, and also voted for Hilton.
“We are on the wrong track. The rail project is good, but let the private sector take it over, pay for it and make the money, not a taxpayer.
“Nobody’s perfect, but I believe it’s time for a change.”
Malian abstained from voting for anyone in the Los Angeles’ mayor’s race.
Patricia Gainer also didn’t vote in the governor’s race because she ”didn’t particularly care for either candidate”.
But she did vote for Karen Bass for mayor.
“Nithya lacks experience. Period. We all have a lot to say about what we need to change in Los Angeles. But does that mean I need to be the mayor or the governor? No.”
“How do you make change? Become part of the change, and that’s what she’s doing,” Gainer said.
Teacher Douglas Escobar described his mayoral vote as “not Karen Bass.”
“I don’t think she she did her job when she had to, and her ability to have her funds being accounted for,” he explained.
“And there’s a lot of services that we need here in Los Angeles. And we just don’t see it.”
Holly, a performing artist, voted for Nithya Raman, but described the decision as “really tough for me.”
“There were pros and cons to both in my mind,” she said.
“I’m just leaning a little bit more progressive. I get kind of upset and irritated when I have my TV on and I hear the ads where they bash each other because I really think they each have wonderful things to bring to us.”
Vanessa Canley, an educator who described herself as “super liberal,” voted for Bass, despite previously voting for Raman in her city council district.
“I don’t find her very effective,” she said.
For Governor, Canly voted Xavier Becerra. “I mean, he’s the son of California,” she said.
“Steve Hilton has a British accent. Like what? No!”
Jerry Raburn, a political science major at UCLA, was another who abstained from the governor’s vote.
“I was not necessarily thrilled with the Democratic nominee,” he explained. “And I’m not necessarily a Republican. I’m concerned about the economy and not necessarily things related to like identity politics.
“Unfortunately, I think I might have to leave California with my UCLA degree to go to someplace more affordable.
“So one day I can buy a house and have the American Dream. All those states are much more conservative. But unfortunately, it seems like the the dream is much more alive in those like red states.”
Meanwhile, Shabazz Williams, a sports reporter voted for Becerra as ”the lesser of two evils.”
Artist Jenna Floria voted for Nithya Raman, also because “we just need change happening” because of how the city was going.
“I’m born and raised here to immigrant parents, and the first person in my family to be able to vote.”
