By Kara Hallam
Enterprise Editor
@KaraHallam
It may have been raining on Tuesday, but the weather did not cloud election spirit. Coppell students, teachers and residents alike participated and eagerly awaited the results to the close races on Election Day.
Voting occurred between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations in Coppell: Pinkerton Elementary, Coppell Bible Fellowship Church, Mockingbird Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, Town Center Elementary, Cottonwood Creek Elementary and Riverchase Elementary in Coppell.
Positions up for election included that of the Texas state governor, state senator, state representatives, U.S. senators, U.S. House of Representatives, district attorney, Texas supreme court judges and district clerks and judges. Click here for the results of the local positions.
Notable was the race for U.S. senators and Texas state governor. In this year’s election 36 seats were available for the U.S. Senate and the Republicans needed to gain six more seats than they already had in order to become the majority.
The race was close and the Republicans gained a net of seven seats in the Senate. Alaska and Virginia at this time have yet to determine which party won and Louisiana will hold a runoff election Dec. 6. For now, the Senate has 52 Republicans and 44 Democrats.
“This shift of power is extremely significant as it will be difficult for Democrats to regain a majority any time soon. This sense of security will allow Republicans to not only pass legislation that they deem acceptable, but also to pass long term legislation without fear of losing their office before it can be seen through,” senior Coppell Conservatives Club secretary Elena Grijalva said.
In the Texas state governor race, Democratic candidate Wendy Davis tried to close the traditionally large gap between votes for Texas Republican and Democratic Candidates. At times polls showed throughout the campaign that Davis trailed Republican candidate Greg Abbott by only eight points. However, Davis lost by 20 points in the final election, disappointing Democrat hopes to turn Texas blue and upholding the long-standing control Republicans have in Texas.
Despite political tensions, AP Environmental Science teacher Cathy Douglas was upbeat for today’s elections.
“On election night after school when my husband gets home from work the very first thing we do is vote and then we go out to dinner,” Douglas said. “We have done that every year for the 25 years that we have been married.”
Honoring this tradition have been valuable to the Douglas family, as well as voting in general.
“After dinner, we go home and we wait to hear all the responses as the results are coming on T.V,” Douglas said. “A lot of people don’t think their one vote counts but it can make a difference and if you want change in the world, [voting] is our voice for community members.”
As with every year, eager students who have recently turned 18 get the chance to vote for the very first time.
“My first time to vote was a little odd,” senior Stephen Bavousett said.
Bavousett participated in voting for the very first time on Oct. 30. He voted early at the Valley Ranch Library in the spare time he had before attending a Halloween party.
“I walked into the polls dressed as a mad scientist,” Bavousett said. “Despite the weird looks I got it was wonderful to get to vote for the first time and participate in the patriotic process and it was simple.”
