Lawyer Michael Fitzpatrick and his playwright wife Miriam Gonzales brought their 12-year-old daughter, Maria, to their AU Park polling site Tuesday.
“I think that it’s important because I feel that we as a country need to uphold what our country was founded on,” Gonzales said, adding that she considered immigration and the political refugee crisis to be the most important election issues.
The United States, Gonzales said, is a “beacon of light” that must continue to welcome people of all backgrounds.
Maria and her mother went into the voting booth together and pressed the button for president at the same time, with their hands layered one on top of the other.
Mary Pendergast, a lawyer who lives in Tenleytown, said she voted for Hillary Clinton.
“I don’t want a misogynistic crazy man in the White House,” Pendergast said. “No crazies. War and peace, you know the basics.”
Climate change was one of the most important issues that drove Tariq Lee-Grimes to the polls.
“You have a gentleman who is running for president who doesn’t believe in the science of climate change,” he said, adding that it also was important for black Americans to vote. Lee-Grimes also believes that voting as an African-American is especially significant.
“My people fought for this right so that’s always the first reason I come out here to vote,” he said.
Patrick Henneberry was vocal about voting for Clinton, saying she has “the chops to keep America safe.” The George Washington University senior proudly wore his “I Voted” sticker after voting Tuesday for the first time.
Nicolo Pisoni, a first-time voter from Spring Valley, said he wasn’t convinced his single vote would have an effect on the outcome.
“My voice doesn’t matter, but it’s fine.”
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