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The 2016 election is over - at least, the numbers part. What happens next? We're bringing you continuing coverage on what ballot measures passed and failed, what the reelected - and newly elected - officials have to say about the election, and what a Donald Trump presidency means for Colorado.Election Night Coverage2016 Election Results - in chart formKUNC's coverage, archived on Storify 00000173-b44e-de61-a5fb-f7cf7ec70001

Election 2016: A Politics Professor In Colorado Mulls The Thorny Issues

Clinton/Trump campaigns

This year’s presidential race is rife with lingering questions. What’s the future of the Supreme Court? What will happen to the local candidates? Will Millennials actually vote? Colorado State University political science associate professor Kyle Saunders to discuss some of the thorny issues that define the 2016 election.

Here are a few highlights from their conversation, recorded after Saunders moderated a forum on campus:

On younger voters showing less enthusiasm and engagement in the presidential race:

“Younger voters were largely Sanders supporters, and when Bernie Sanders was moved out of the Democratic nomination, Clinton was a little less popular [with] that particular demographic. It has been a difficult mobilization process. What that means for this demographics’ turnout, and their participation rates this cycle, means it could be lower.”

On vote splitting between parties from the top of the ticket to down ballot:

“It has been a relatively rare phenomenon in the last few cycles. Most people who are strong partisans go into the voting booth and just vote for their party regardless of name. It’s just that the unpopularity of candidate Trump makes it likely that people will vote for Clinton then go down ballot and maybe prefer a Republican candidate for Congress.”

On the future of the Republican Party:

“It’s very rare that you get partisans, or sitting members of the party who hold office, coming out against their presidential nominee. That’s reflective of the very tough spot Republicans are in and Paul Ryan is there in the middle of it trying to hold it all together. I think that will be very interested with the new Congress and Republican caucus, whether or not he’s able to hold onto that Speakership.”

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