With Election Day two days away, interviews with voters in Colorado, Washington state, Utah, New York, Virginia, Illinois, Texas and the District of Columbia suggest that opposition, more than enthusiasm, is shaping how many Americans plan to vote in this year’s midterms.
Control of Congress is on the line, with Democrats aiming to pick up enough seats to check President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda for the rest of his term. Trump himself is not on any ballot this cycle, but several Democratic voters told Fox News Digital that his administration is the main reason they plan to vote blue.
A voter from Colorado said he intends to vote for Democrats “down the line because Trump is an idiot.” A Washington, D.C. voter named Lucy, who identified herself as a Democrat, said: “I am sick of the administration. I have been very upset about what’s happening to this city and this area and this country — all the lies.”
Mark, a voter from Utah, cited the cost of living and concerns about government conduct. “Democrats,” he said, explaining his vote. “Because of corruption, cost of living, democracy. It doesn’t seem like this administration cares about the Constitution. The president’s enriching himself and the rest of the country is getting more poor.”
Crossover frustration
Some voters described tension between their policy views and their opposition to the president. Jeremy, from New York, said he generally votes Democrat despite agreeing with many Republican positions. “I just feel like when you get behind someone who’s unfortunately in charge, like the man that is, then this is something I can’t really support,” he said.
A voter from Virginia who backed Trump and Republicans in past elections said he is switching sides this year over what he sees as unmet promises. “After six years of Make America Great Again, we’re not great again,” he said. “So I’m switching.”
Republican voters cite their own concerns
Opposition-driven voting wasn’t confined to Democrats. Republican-leaning voters pointed to worries about the direction set by Democratic policies.
“I’m voting Republican,” said a voter named Yago. “The reason why is because I do not want to see socialism in this country. Socialism did nothing but destroy everything.”
John, a voter from Illinois, pointed to social issues. “I think that over the past couple of years, we’ve seen what the Democrats promote, as far as social policies go, and family policy, gender policy, all that stuff. I think particularly abortion, too,” he said.
Immigration, guns and foreign policy
Several voters named specific issues rather than broad party loyalty as their motivation. Emily, from Texas, who said she plans to vote Democrat, pointed to immigration enforcement. “My main concern is probably just everything that’s happening with ICE and DHS,” she said.
Nelson, a Washington, D.C. voter backing Republicans, said his decision centers on the Second Amendment. “The Second Amendment protects your First [Amendment],” he said.
Kamil, a voter from Washington state, cited foreign policy as decisive for him. “When it comes to foreign policy with helping out Israel and not giving any help to Palestine,” he said, “that’s what’s driving me to vote for the Democrats instead.”
Taken together, the responses suggest that for many voters heading into Tuesday’s elections, casting a ballot has less to do with excitement for a party’s agenda and more to do with pushing back against the direction they believe the country, or their own state, is headed.
