Carol Carty, an attorney living in suburban Montgomery County, misses the Republican Party of the past, particularly the era of Ronald Reagan. She longs for a party defined by lower taxes, less regulation, respect for the courts and the Constitution. Carty considers herself a ‘Never Trump’ Republican and has supported Democratic candidates in recent elections due to her dissatisfaction with the direction of the current GOP under Donald Trump. However, despite her reservations about Trump and his policies, Carty finds herself open to the idea of voting for him in the upcoming election.
As part of a CNN project, Carty’s views align with other former supporters of Republican figures like Nikki Haley and Reagan Republicans. The emergence of Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket presents a dilemma for moderate Republicans who are not Trump supporters but have reservations about Harris and her policies. Carty expresses a desire to learn more about Harris and her achievements as vice president before making a final decision on how she will cast her vote.
Cynthia Sabatini from Delaware County shares similar sentiments as Carty. She identifies as a ‘never Trump’ voter and chose to support Joe Biden in the 2020 election due to her dissatisfaction with Trump’s presidency. Sabatini is keeping an open mind about Harris as a potential candidate but has concerns about some of her policies and leadership style. She looks forward to learning more about Harris during the campaign, particularly through debates and other campaign events.
Joan London, a former Republican turned independent, is also hesitant about supporting Harris. She is influenced by the comments made by Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, and is proud to have distanced herself from the current GOP. Despite being a Reagan Republican, London believes Harris does not align with her values and policy beliefs. She plans to keep an open mind but is unlikely to switch her vote from a Republican candidate she finds acceptable.
Michael Pesce, a Reagan Republican from Bucks County, opposes Trump and is ready to commit to supporting a Democratic candidate like Harris in the upcoming election. He has reservations about Trump’s policies and attitudes, particularly his choice of JD Vance as his running mate. Pesce feels that Harris has the potential to bring a fresh perspective to the campaign, and he is willing to support her as a preferable alternative to Trump.
Overall, the sentiments expressed by these voters reflect a shift in the suburban demographic towards a more moderate and independent stance in political alignments. The emergence of candidates like Kamala Harris presents a challenge and opportunity for moderate Republicans who are dissatisfied with the current GOP under Trump. Their openness to considering Democratic candidates like Harris highlights the complex dynamics at play in the upcoming election and the potential for a change in traditional party allegiances.
