HBCU Students Urged To Vote

By Rosaland Tyler
Associate Editor
New Journal and Guide

Abigail Spanberger

Individuals from all walks of life are on the campaign trail urging people to vote, including Urban One news media pioneer Cathy Hughes, who spoke at Virginia State University on Sept. 23.

Hughes, the founder of the nation’s largest Black-owned broadcasting company, currently operating over 50 radio stations, said recent efforts by the White House to curtail free speech and unfavorable press reports “will push us to be even smarter and greater and more committed” in coverage.

President Donald Trump, Hughes said in a recent interview with Progress Index, has used commercials and billboards to his advantage year-round, whereas other politicians “have billboards and commercials, and are out in the public only during election time.”

“He’s done more campaigning now than during election time because he understands the media.”

Responding to Jimmy Kimmel returning to the airwaves, Hughes said, “A lot of that had to do with people speaking out,” she said. “I think that once we learn to use our voice, use our vote, you’ll see things start to stabilize.”

An ABC report on Sept. 24 showed that 6.26 million viewers watched Kimmel return to his studio in Los Angeles after the network pulled his show from the air on Sept. 17.

The number, based on Nielsen’s preliminary figures, does not reflect streaming views.

This makes it “the show’s highest regularly scheduled episode in over 10 years − since 3/12/15,” according to a Disney news release. In the 2024-25 TV season, Nielsen reported “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” averaged 1.6 million viewers, according to The New York Times and NBC News.

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Cathy Hughes

Others making campaign stops include Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor, and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate, who is portraying herself as the “Comeback Kid.”

Spanberger delivered the keynote address at the Sept. 28 Hampton University Convocation.

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She discussed the importance of education and serving the community. “There is a legacy of service here at Hampton. And whether you’re just entering these halls, or preparing to graduate soon, you are in a position where you can serve your communities, and you can do it right now,” Spanberger said.

In a press release that announced Spanberger’s convocation address, Hampton President Darrell K. Williams said, “This year’s Convocation also comes at a time of growing student engagement in civic life at Hampton University. During the 2024 Presidential Election, Hampton students demonstrated extraordinary resolve and resilience in exercising their right to vote.”

Williams said, “On Election Day, long lines wrapped around community buildings as students waited for hours to cast their ballots. Some were told they might have to return later, others were asked to be patient as polling stations worked through tough delays. Yet, instead of leaving, Hampton students stood together – talking, studying, and encouraging one another – determined that their votes would be counted.”

“As the evening stretched into the night, polling officials continued to process voters until the very last minute, ensuring every student who remained in line had the chance to participate. It was a powerful moment that reflected both the challenges and the triumphs of democracy in action.”

Williams said, “In recognition of this perseverance, Hampton University is working toward establishing a voting precinct on campus to make the process more accessible for its student body in future elections.”

Another effort includes the Virginia Democrats Phone Bank. Volunteers may sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/.

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Meanwhile, Republican candidates running for statewide offices in Virginia all signed up for a Sept. 19 Chesterfield rally with Vivek Ramaswamy, a wealthy former pharmaceutical executive, who unsuccessfully ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and served two months with DOGE earlier this year.

On Sept. 19, Ramaswamy, a contender and current candidate for Ohio governor, faced a crowd of roughly 2,000 inside a large barn in suburban Richmond as Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to become the next Virginia Governor, looked on. He focused on immigration, free speech and turning swing-state Virginia “redder” than ever before.

A recent Christopher Newport University poll shows that Spanberger leads Earle-Sears by 12 points, 52 percent to 40 percent, among Virginia likely voters.

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“Virginia, we’re gonna win in November, and it starts today,” Earle-Sears said at a recent campaign event. “This election is not about the next four years. This election is about the vision and the future of Virginia, for our children. It’s about our future, and it starts today with your vote, with your vote, with your vote, with your vote.”

Voters in Virginia are heading to the polls on November 4 at a time when thousands of Virginians employed by the federal government or its contractors have lost their jobs. Since Virginia is home to a large share of the federal workforce, with about 10 percent of the commonwealth’s workers employed by the federal government and roughly 320,000 people working in civilian federal jobs, the cuts hit Virginia especially hard.

On Sept. 1, the Virginia Mercury reported that Virginia lost about 43,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2025, the largest drop in absolute numbers of jobs in the country, with many of those due to the DOGE cuts.

A historical analysis by Gallup shows Trump’s approval ratings in September of his first years in office − both as the 45th and 47th presidents − are lower than any other modern president at the same time in their administrations.

RealClearPolitics Poll Average shows the gap between those who disapprove of Trump and those who approve has been widening and becoming more negative for more than a week.  A time graph by the New York Times shows a similar trend.