These swing voters regret voting for Trump and it's influencing their midterm choices
Disappointment with Trump’s record
Participants described concerns about inflation, wars, tariffs and the direction of the country. Charles P., a 43-year-old Democrat, said he saw no positive in the administration’s work and felt the country had more enemies.
Richard A., a 56-year-old Republican who said he had been out of work for 10 months, cited inflation, a food crisis, the war with Iran and immigration enforcement. He said he believed the country had gone downhill under Trump.
Focus groups reveal a shift
NPR observed the Tuesday night discussions with 12 Georgians who voted for Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024. The monthly groups are conducted in battleground states by Engagious and Nelson Recruiting, with NPR participating through the Swing Voter Project.
The groups are not scientifically significant like polls, but can offer insight into voters’ thinking. Moderator Rich Thau, president of Engagious, said that for the first time this year, a majority of participants said Trump would influence their midterm decisions.
Some plan to back Democrats
Seven of the 12 participants said Trump’s influence would lead them to vote for Democrats, Thau said. One woman who voted Republican in 2024 said her disappointment had led her to plan to vote for Democrats across the ballot.
Ten participants said they planned to vote for Georgia’s Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff. Some said they wanted to keep him in office because he would not be aligned with Trump.
Stability and the midterms
Independent voter Cedric, 41, said he would avoid candidates closely aligned with Trump. He said he wanted someone who would stand up to the president and offer a different direction.
Thau said some participants believed Democratic control of Congress could bring greater stability and help control the president’s actions. They also saw that as a possible way to rebuild confidence in the economy.
Key points
- Eleven of 12 participants said they were disappointed with Trump’s overall job performance.
- Ten participants said they regretted voting for Trump in 2024.
- Seven said Trump would influence them to vote for Democrats in the midterms.
- Ten participants said they planned to vote for Sen. Jon Ossoff.