There are 3.78 million people registered to vote in the state of Colorado.

1.13 million are registered Republicans.

1.1 million are registered Democrats.

1.51 million are unaffiliated.

In 2020, Joe Biden won the popular vote with 51.3% and received 81 million votes, the most votes ever cast for a U.S. President. However, Donald Trump followed close behind with 46.8%, obtaining 74 million votes.

Joe Biden’s win against Donald Trump, was the first time since 1992 that a challenger had defeated an incumbent president.

This presidential election was the first that most high school students were actively involved in. As middle and high schoolers, this pivotal election was one that they could form their own opinions about.

Ideologies, values, and cultures are all things that influence a person’s political affiliation. At Monarch, most students and families are left-leaning, but not all of them.

According to Tufts, 1 in 4 teenagers worldwide identify as Republican. Elle Pitts (12) is part of that minority.

While Pitts aligns with most of Donald Trump’s ideologies, she also believes that one party is never completely correct.

“I think if you’re all the way on one side or all the way on the other side, you’re wrong, it’s extreme both ways,” Pitts said. “But I think, I’m a little bit more over to the right.”

Although she is unable to vote, Pitts still researches and collects information to be well-prepared for the next election when she will be of voting age.

“I agree with [Trump’s] immigration policy and keeping a more closed border to protect,” Pitts said. “There’s a lot of criminal activity coming over the border. And I think that if we close that off and put the American people first, it would benefit us a lot.”

Still, Pitts recognizes that every candidate has flaws. Pitts finds the biggest flaw within Trump’s abortion acts.

“I think that it’s a very traumatizing and sad thing, and I think that any woman should have the right to choose what they want to do with their body,” Pitts said.

Pitts’ parents do not share her political viewpoints. However, Cooper Craze (11) is just the opposite, identifying as a Republican and following the beliefs of his parents.

“I would say that I’m more on the Republican side of things,” Craze said. “I just kind of grew up with those beliefs, or I’ve just been told to believe that.”

Craze, however, identifies with the Republican Party for reasons different from Pitts. On top of following his family’s ideals, he feels a strong connection between his political affiliation and religion.

“I’m Christian and so, especially after the assassination attempt, it was like seeing Trump with Christian views,” Craze said. ” He was like, God, protected me and stuff. So that’s kind of my side of the religion scale.”

Following the assassination attempt, Trump publicly claimed that God had saved his life not once but twice. This is what confirmed Craze’s support for the candidate.

Although religion is a motivating factor, it is not the only reason for Craze’s support. Similarly to Pitts, immigration was one of the most important policies in his decision.

“I like the fact he is going to lower gas prices for sure, and then also with Biden, there was tons of, like, all the immigration, with tons of violence and everything,” Craze said. I think with Trump as President, he would be able to limit all the trafficking and violence,” Craze said.

Craze was never a Biden fan, and has long supported the Trump campaign. The recent switch in Democratic party candidates, from Biden to Harris, was not enough to change his vote.

“I do prefer [Harris] over Biden because Biden wasn’t as sharp, but I don’t think she’s as prepared and experienced as Trump is, because he’s been in the position of the president before,” Craze said.” He knows how to handle stuff, and so that’s why I also think he’s a better candidate, in my opinion.”

While discussing both pros and cons, Pitts and Craze find their beliefs and viewpoints don’t often cause issues with other Monarch students.

“It’s not really a topic we talk about a lot,” Craze said. “It’s not that relevant because no one can vote or it’s their first year voting, so no one really cares that much.”

Although Monarch is a mostly liberal school, Pitts finds people are still able to connect despite different beliefs and ideologies.

“I don’t see it as that big of an issue, because I have friends that think differently and that’s okay,” Pitts said. “They’re still my friends. I have nothing against them, I’m still gonna love them the same.”