With the midterm elections eight days away, a number of voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania say their decisions are driven largely by a wish to put a brake on President Donald Trump and his administration's agenda. Fox News Digital spoke with voters in Delaware County and Bucks County about what is motivating them.
Many of those interviewed said they do not trust Democrats, yet plan to back them anyway in hopes of changing the country's direction. They pointed to a range of concerns, including affordability and rising prices, the Iran war and corruption in Washington, D.C.
"I didn't say I trusted the Democrats," said Tomas of Doylestown, when asked whether the opposition party would do better than the one in power. "I'm just gonna vote for them because [Trump] is just taking us down the tubes." Another voter, Clay, was similarly blunt about his doubts, saying he does not trust Democrats but believes it is time for a change.
Voters were also pressed on whether Democrats could bring prices down, given that inflation surged under former President Joe Biden. Chris of Doylestown argued that Republicans have made matters worse over the past two years. "Gas is way up, the energy is way up, food's way up. There's nothing that's cheaper, so they can't argue that," he said. He added that with Trump in office, he does not see how things could get any worse.
Others had broader reasons for backing Democrats. Nancy of Newtown Square criticized what she called a "ball-less GOP party" that will not rein in the president. Tom of Media said he plans to vote for the Democratic congressional slate because Trump has not been good for the country and needs to be slowed down. A voter named Bill said he is voting a straight Democratic ticket because Republicans refuse to stand up to what he described as fascist actions by Trump.
Not every voter focused on prices. One man said affordability was not a concern for him, citing instead his worries about ICE, the renaming of the Kennedy Center and Ukraine as the reasons he wants to vote for Democrats.
Some voters also acknowledged Biden's record. Tom said there was "no doubt" Biden overshot in trying to orchestrate the recovery from COVID, and some blamed the pandemic for higher inflation during that period, noting that the rate trended downward toward the end of his term. Even so, Tom said the Trump administration is making institutional changes to government that will be harder to undo than simply stopping spending.
Pennsylvania's results are expected to play a key role in the fight for control of Congress, as Republicans try to hold their majorities while Trump works to rally voters behind GOP candidates. A Democratic takeover of either chamber could complicate his efforts to advance his agenda for the rest of his presidency.
The state hosts several closely watched House races, including one in Bucks County. Cook Political Report recently moved Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick's contest against Democratic challenger Bob Harvie in the 1st Congressional District from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican," a sign the race is becoming more competitive as Election Day nears.
