Nov 4th- Running and Voting

ERA of WTF……..joy and resistance

Damn. I was reminded that a year ago today, I ran to the polls right after finishing a 5K. I remember feeling so much hope and excitement for the presidential election. We were about to make history — our first female president. But we all know how that story ended, and I’ll never forget the pain I felt the next day, or the tears I cried. Deep down, I knew — not to the full extent, but enough — that people, and this country, were going to suffer in ways we couldn’t yet imagine.

It’s been ten months since Inauguration Day 2026, and there are so many emotions I still don’t have words for. But today, I felt hopeful again. We had a mayoral election, and in some states, midterms for governors, ballot measures, and other local offices. I knew I had to run to the polls again.

It was a good day for it — 49 degrees, quiet, with a few Halloween decorations still up in people’s yards. I made sure to look at each one as I passed. I planned to do interval running since I had to be on campus later. It took me 35 minutes to finish my 5K.

There was no line at the polls. The “I Voted” stickers were bigger this year. No ID was required — as it should be. I got there right at 7:07 a.m., just as the polls opened. I like to be early; I’m a traditionalist that way. No mail-in ballot for me. I want to be physically present at the polling place because I know that privilege wasn’t always ours. Black folks fought long and hard against racist barriers to make sure we could vote in person, and every time I go, I honor that fight.