From undecided voters to just how the election will shake out, the uncertainty that still permeates this election cycle was something to be embraced at a nonprofit cinema in Santa Ana on Tuesday night.
The Frida Cinema, the only nonprofit movie theater in Orange County, hosted a community watch party for the first — and perhaps only — presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Nearly every seat in the 210-person theater was filled, indicative of the high voter interest in the 2024 presidential election, now just shy of two months away.
“In any election season, emotions run high, and it’s natural for people to be filled with uncertainty and strong opinions,” said Logan Crow, the executive director and CEO of the Frida. “I would like you to know that you are safe to experience that uncertainty here.”
“Tonight is more than just a screening; it’s a statement that every voice matters,” said Crow. “Moreover, by offering tonight’s event free of charge, it’s a statement that access to information, and the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, should not come with a price tag.”
But by the time the debate was coming to a close, Hairo Cortes said he wasn’t sure the debate changed anyone’s minds.
“This will be a close race,” said Cortes, 31, a Harris supporter. “Debates are mostly theater, and it’s going to come down to turnout. I just hope that the spectacle motivates people to come out.”
Meanwhile, only about 4 miles north, Chapman University welcomed students into its Argyros Forum lounge for free pizza and patriotic M&Ms, information about voter registration and an opportunity to hear Harris and Trump debate.
At both watch parties, Republicans, Democrats, independents and undecided voters were welcome to watch the two contenders face off. But at both, Harris seemingly came away the crowd favorite, at the very least, eliciting the louder cheers.
In Orange, an estimated 140 students filtered into the lounge area, perched on colorful, multi-level couches, partaking of free pizza and voter registration information.
“It’s important to be an informed citizen, and one of the ways you become informed is to watch a presidential debate,” said Fred Smoller, who teaches political science at Chapman.
Students, Smoller said, would be able to glean more from watching the candidates go head-to-head rather than from campaign ads or soundbites.
“They can take the measure of the candidates,” said Smoller.
Multiple students who attended the watch party — either for the full debate or for a few moments on their way to evening classes — pointed to women’s rights, particularly reproductive health care, as what they see as the most important issue this election cycle.
Trump has often changed his opinion or rhetoric when it comes to abortion bans, said 20-year-old Victoria Ascencio, who, before the debate, said she hoped the candidates would stick to policy rather than personal attacks. Ascencio is supporting Harris this election cycle and said she wanted to hear Trump “say what he actually believes” when it comes to abortion limitations.
About 15 minutes into the debate, the topic did turn to abortion. Moderator Linsey Davis asked Trump about his seemingly changing opinion on his home state of Florida’s abortion ban proposal.
Trump — while saying he supports exceptions to abortion bans when it comes to rape, incest and the life of a mother — didn’t explicitly rule out a nationwide abortion ban Tuesday night.
While uncertainty was celebrated at the Frida, Harris seemed to be a crowd favorite in the dark, popcorn-filled theater — for the most part. She drew cacophonous cheers when she spoke about reproductive rights, the economy and supporting the middle class.
But when she called Hamas — a terrorist organization (as designated by the U.S.) responsible for attacking Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — and promised to always support Israel’s right to defend itself, some in the crowd booed.
One Chapman student, who wished not to be named, said she planned to vote third-party this election cycle because she does not believe Harris is strong enough on supporting Palestine. But she may end up voting in her first presidential election for Harris, largely due to peer pressure.
At both Chapman and the Frida, the audience roared in laughter and applause when Davis refuted Trump’s claim that some states allow children to be killed after birth.
Carolina Mendez, 25, said the GOP’s stance on abortion alienates the majority of voters across the nation.
“When abortion has been on the ballot, voters have overwhelmingly come out for a women’s right to choose,” she said. “As a young woman, I care about this.”
Chapman student Alec Smith, 21, also earmarked reproductive health care as top of mind this election cycle. He said he has watched Trump turn to podcasts and other streaming events, what he sees as an effort to appeal to younger voters, like his generation.
“I get concerned because I see Trump … really reaching out to younger generations who might not know as much how to read up on the news and what’s going on,” Smith said. Many people his age get their news from social media sites like TikTok and Instagram and might not be familiar with how to fact-check the Trump campaign’s rhetoric.
This was the first presidential debate since Harris was elevated to the top of the ticket. The last debate Trump participated in was largely seen as the catalyst for the end of former President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.
Tuesday’s head-to-head was hosted by ABC News and moderated by anchors Davis and David Muir at Philadelphia’s National Constitutional Center. There were no opening statements or a live audience, and each candidate had two minutes to answer a question and two minutes for a rebuttal. Microphones were muted for the candidate whose turn it was not to speak — which, for the most part, worked to curtail either candidate speaking over the other one.
Aside from reproductive health care, inflation and the economy were issues voters who assembled at the Frida said they care about.
The economy was also an important topic for attendees at both watch parties.
For Miguel Braseno, a Santa Ana resident, the economy is the No. 1 issue because it “affects everyone, no matter who you are.”
“The economy is still tough on people, but it seems like it’s getting better,” said Braseno, who believes Democrats have inflation under control. “Unemployment is down. It’s going in the right direction.”
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