Middletown, Ohio is a solidly Republican-voting city within the red-voting Butler County. During the 2020 election between then-President Donald Trump and then-former Vice President Joe Biden, more than 61% of Butler County voters selected Trump. On Election Day 2024, Middletown voters had the option to choose Trump again, but this time with a Middletown native as his running mate, Sen. JD Vance. CityBeat asked voters outside two polling locations in Middletown who they were choosing in the presidential race, with most voters declaring support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
One voter, named Serenity, spoke with CityBeat outside her polling location, the Highview 6th Grade Center. She answered enthusiastically when asked who she supported for president.
“Kamala Harris,” she said. “Kamala all the way.”
But she’s not just excited for the possibility of electing the first woman to the Oval Office — she told CityBeat she’s voting against her childhood bully.
“I can’t stand JD Vance. I grew up with him, I knew him personally,” Serenity said. “He was a bully when he was a kid. Very mean, very rude. Just being a bully as a child. He used to kick me in the shins all the time, and then I know that my ex-husband was also bullied by him in high school, so it’s like very much that same Trump mentality of bullying. I think he has that as well. Maybe that’s why they get along so well.”
“How does it feel to be voting against your childhood bully?” CityBeat asked.
“Very powerful. Very powerful.”
Roger Webster told CityBeat he’s voting for Trump, but not enthusiastically. He’s concerned about the recent uptick in political violence.
“I think he’s the lesser of two evils,” Webster said. “I hope people are sane and respect one another’s opinions and not do anything stupid. The election is the election and people are gonna speak out, and that’s the way I feel, that’s where I do it. I don’t punch you because you’re for Trump or you’re for Harris or whatever. That’s not the way we do things. We’re human beings. Let’s treat each other like human beings for crying out loud. We need to communicate.”
Sean Hooks was a lifelong Republican until Trump took office in 2016. He told CityBeat he’s voting for Harris, but he didn’t seem optimistic for a Harris victory.
“Nervous. Very nervous,” Hooks said. “I’m voting Democrat even though I’ve been a Republican my whole life. Since [Trump] has been a candidate in 2016, I’ve not voted for a Republican.”
Kevin Devault is another Middletown voter turning out in support of Harris. He told CityBeat he’s feeling ”pretty confident” in his candidate.
“When I woke up this morning, I was thinking, ‘Man, we got this.’ I mean, I feel it. I do.”
“Do you feel like people in Middletown are turning out for a Democrat more than they would in the past?” CityBeat asked Devault.
“I don’t think [Trump] has lost a single voter,” he said. “But I think anybody undecided that was on the fence is pretty much voting for Harris.”
CityBeat visited a second polling location at Miami University’s satellite campus in Middletown. Much like the Highview Road polling site, voters at Miami Middletown overwhelmingly turned out for Harris. There’s no way to know the opinions of the handful of voters who turned down CityBeat‘s request for an interview, but studies show that Republicans are less likely to trust local news media than Democrats.
During a slow period for voter turnout at Miami Middletown, CityBeat spoke with a group of Harris campaigners. Brendan was there to pass out leaflets about Democratic candidates — he told CityBeat he’s seeing growing support for Harris in the area.
“We’re actually getting out into the community, talking to folks, letting them know what’s really on the ballot, you know, as opposed to sloganeering and whatnot,” Brendan said. “You go actually talk to people in your own voice face to face and this is what happens.”
Pam Murphy, who was campaigning with Brendan, said she’s not happy with the way Vance portrayed her hometown in Hillbilly Elegy.
“I wasn’t fond of his book because it wasn’t the Middletown I grew up in,” Murphy said. “And I don’t think it was the Middletown that my boys grew up in, and they were close to his age. I wasn’t pleased with that.”
Mike, another voter at Miami Middletown, told CityBeat he’s voting for Harris, citing Trump’s leadership style.
“I voted for the party I believe in: Democrat,” Mike said. “I just think that Trump, he wants to be a dictator and I don’t think we need a dictator. If you disagree with him, he’s against you. We want someone that represents everyone.”
Another voter walked by and told CityBeat she’s ready to finally see a woman become president.
“Madam President,” said Valerie Crawford. “I think it’s great. It’s been too long.”
Only one voter, Kevin Puckett, told CityBeat he was still on the fence between Trump and Harris — even as he walked into his polling place.
“I am truly torn. I mean, literally walking up there, I might change my mind,” Puckett said. “I’m a conservative, but I’m not a Trumpster, but I’m also not really happy with the direction that our nation’s headed and I’ll probably vote conservatively. I’m a registered Democrat, by the way. I am the poster child for being a swing voter.”
“Is there a specific sticking point issue that makes it hard for you to decide?” CityBeat asked.
“The deficit and the spending, our government spending. That’s probably my biggest issue. But I’m pro-choice, so that makes it hard to vote, you know, conservative, honestly. I’ve spoken to people that I’m really close to and a lot of them are just like me – they’re not huge Trump fans, but they’re leaning conservatively just because of some of the issues, you know, we’re facing.”
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This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 12, 2024.