Two days before Americans vote in this year’s midterm elections, voters interviewed across several states say their choices are being shaped less by enthusiasm for a party or candidate and more by frustration with the opposing side or the current administration.
Fox News Digital spoke with voters in Colorado, Washington, Utah, New York, Virginia, Illinois and Texas, among other places, and found a recurring theme: opposition, not allegiance, is driving many people to the polls.
A voter from Colorado said he plans to vote for Democrats “down the line because Trump is an idiot.” In Washington, D.C., a voter named Lucy said, “I’m a Democratic voter. 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.”
Although President Donald Trump is not on this year’s ballot, several Democratic-leaning voters cited his administration as the main reason they plan to vote for Democratic congressional candidates. Control of Congress is at stake, with Democrats hoping to win enough seats to check Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his presidency.
Mark, a voter from Utah, said he’s voting for Democrats “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.”
Jeremy, a voter from New York, said he usually votes Democratic even though he agrees with some Republican positions. “It’s funny because I agree with a lot of the Republican stances. 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.
Not every shift ran in the same direction. A voter from Virginia said he had supported Trump and Republicans in past elections but is switching to Democrats this time, citing unmet promises. “After six years of Make America Great Again, we’re not great again,” he said. “So I’m switching.”
Republican voters cite opposition too
Voters who said they plan to back Republicans also pointed to concerns about the other party rather than pure enthusiasm for their own.
“I’m voting Republican,” a voter named Yago said. “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, said his vote is tied 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.
Other voters named specific issues shaping their decisions, including immigration enforcement, gun rights and foreign policy.
Emily, a voter from Texas who plans to vote Democrat, said, “My main concern is probably just everything that’s happening with ICE and DHS.”
A voter from Washington, D.C. named Nelson, who said he’s backing Republicans, pointed to gun rights: “The Second Amendment protects your First [Amendment].”
Kamil, a voter from Washington, cited U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestinians as his reason for voting Democratic. “When it comes to foreign policy with helping out Israel and not giving any help to Palestine, that’s what’s driving me to vote for the Democrats instead,” he said.
Taken together, the interviews suggest that for many voters heading into Tuesday’s elections, the decision is shaped less by excitement for a party’s platform than by a desire to push back against the direction they believe the country is heading.
