Following big Democratic wins, these swing voters are looking for results
Republicans were dealt a stunning rebuke in last week's midterms.
asserted
Republicans → follow → midterms
But swing voters, who could be decisive in the next election, are more interested in results than investigations or impeachment as Democrats prepare to take power in Congress.
uncertain
Democrats → prepare → Congress
"I am hoping that we don't experience a bunch of gridlock and a lot of whining and crying and just political infighting for the next two years," said Theresa, a voter from Pennsylvania who is participating in NPR's Swing Shift project.
asserted
who → hop → project
"I'm hoping we don't have that.
asserted
we → hop → that
I fear that we will have that."
asserted
we → fear → that
NPR has agreed not to use the full names of the Swing Shift voters, so they can speak freely about politics without fear of personal or professional repercussions.
asserted
they → agree → repercussions
Theresa voted for President Biden in 2020, President Trump in 2024 and split her ticket in this year's midterms.
asserted
Theresa → vote → midterms
In a voice memo sent to NPR days after the midterms, Theresa said she is eager for the cost of living to come down.
asserted
cost → send → living
"I just don't remember it ever being as bad in our time," Theresa said.
asserted
Theresa → remember → time
"And I'm just hoping we get some relief and we get some relief soon."
asserted
we → hop → relief
At 9:56 PM on election night, Wally in Georgia hit send on his voice memo.
asserted
Wally → hit → memo
He had seen enough.
asserted
He → see → enough
I'm not surprised at all by the outcome tonight," Wally said.
asserted
Wally → surprise → outcome
"I believe that this is a lot of Trump's doing and pushback on his style of politics and how he governs.
asserted
he → believe → politics
Wally voted for Trump in 2024 but swung back to Democrats in this year's midterms.
asserted
Wally → vote → midterms
He had initially supported Trump in hopes that a Trump presidency would shake up the political system, but that didn't happen and now he says the second Trump term has been exhausting.
asserted
term → support → system
As he sees it, the decisive Democratic wins signal that the country is ready to move on.
asserted
country → see → it
"Trump has been shooting himself in the foot for many months now," Wally said.
asserted
Wally → shoot → months
We have to hold Democrats to some sort of tangible change and not just promises about what they want to do."
asserted
they → have → what
For several of the Swing Shift voters, Tuesday's results came as a surprise.
asserted
results → come → surprise
Jason from North Carolina split his ticket, voting for Democrat Roy Cooper for Senate and the Republican incumbent for the House.
asserted
Jason → split → House
"My congressman was defeated this time by someone that no one's really ever heard of," said Jason, sounding almost puzzled by the blue wave that crashed on North Carolina.
asserted
that → defeat → Carolina
That happened in a lot of places.
asserted
That → happen → places
Jason wants the incoming Democratic Congress to focus on the cost of living and steer clear of impeachment.
asserted
Congress → want → impeachment
"My fear is that the Democrats now are going to spend the next 2 years not focusing on any of the things that they say Trump didn't do," said Jason.
asserted
Jason → go → that
Michelle in Michigan, voted for President Biden in 2020 but chose Republicans in 2024 and again in this year's midterms.
asserted
Michelle → vote → midterms
"This is the first time I think ever since I've been voting that not one of the people that I voted for won their election," Michelle said.
asserted
Michelle → think → election
Michelle says she understands why so many people voted for Democrats, even if she didn't.
asserted
she → say → Democrats
Americans are tired, she said, of high gas prices, the cost of living and not being able to afford their groceries.
asserted
she → say → groceries
They voted for change.
asserted
They → vote → change
John from Pennsylvania said it felt like his state went from purple to blue overnight.
asserted
state → say → blue
"I'm just very surprised," John said.
asserted
John → surprise → ?
"Not surprised that Democrats had a good night, but they had a very good night.
asserted
they → have → night
Absolutely amazed that they won in Texas and places that just seemed like they were really red."
asserted
they → win → Texas
He voted for President Biden in 2020 and President Trump in 2024.
asserted
He → vote → 2024
In the most recent midterms, he stuck with Republicans despite concerns about the cost of living and the war with Iran.
asserted
he → stick → Iran
Gerald in Georgia ran through the list of states where Democrats won senate races in disbelief.
asserted
Democrats → run → disbelief
"Come on man, Texas turned blue," Gerald said.
asserted
Gerald → come → ?
"South Carolina turned blue, Ohio, Kansas.
asserted
Carolina → turn → ?
Gerald is a Biden to Trump voter from Georgia, who has gone all in on MAGA.
asserted
who → go → MAGA
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
