The Herald interviewed nine people in Peekskill on Wednesday to get their thoughts on Donald Trump’s presidential victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Of those nine, two said they voted for Harris, two declined to reveal their vote, and five did not vote.
No matter who won the presidential election, history would be made, whether it be the first woman as president or the first convicted felon assuming office. Several others who declined to comment said they were simply in shock and had no words.
Allison Myers, a dentist in Peekskill, told the Herald learning the results of the election left her devastated. “I thought that I don’t know what country I live in anymore,” Myers said. “I don’t know that I belong here anymore. I think that people voted because [Trump] made them scared and thought that he could fix anything. I don’t think [Harris] ran a great campaign but she would at least be able to bring some sanity.”
Myers believed part of the low turnout for Harris was because of her gender and race.
“I think these macho men that Trump catered to were scared that they would lose their masculinity if they voted for a Black woman,” Myers said. “I think that he catered to the fear that people have of this country being taken over.”
Brian Portis, who declined to reveal his vote, said he thought that Harris would have won by a landslide had she and Democrats owned the issue of illegal immigration. Portis, who moved to the country about forty years ago, said Democrats should have implemented and enforced the laws on the border more, as well as given more green cards so that immigrants can become fully functional residents.
Dee Ethridge, a woman who worked at the polls in Poughkeepsie on Tuesday and is on disability, said she believed Trump would harm the country by taking Social Security and programs like food stamps and Meals on Wheels.
“I have a sister I’m taking care of right now who’s on disability and Social Security and she can barely live off what it is,” Ethridge said. “I’m on disability, I can barely live on what I’m on.”
Another Peekskill resident, Frank, who declined to give his last name, said he is hesitant to discuss politics with others due to the conflict that comes with it.
“I don’t want to get into arguments because we aren’t in the same world that we used to be in,” he said. “I don’t want to get into conflict with people, particularly at this point where I don’t know what’s going to be happening in the next few months.”
Ethridge said she hoped Trump would take a lesson from all the things that happened to him and work with and for the people, while Myers had a little less hope.
“I think it’s going to be a scary four years,” Myers said. “I really really do. I think he’s going to pardon himself. He’s going to pardon the insurrectionists from Jan. 6. How our country even allows us to vote to elect somebody with 34 felonies, a felon, a known rapist, an insurrectionist, it blows my mind that we allow [him] to even run for president.”
Non-voters share thoughts on the presidency
Westchester County has about 638,600 registered voters, but only about 442,700 voted in the presidential election so far according to unofficial election results. That follows the national trend that one third of eligible voters did not vote.
One person who did not vote, Peekskill resident Ace Shen, said he chose not in part due to feeling jaded with the choices and the general American voting system. “I don’t usually mess with politics. I just keep my head down and do my own thing,” Shen said. “But I did care years ago, when [Trump] was running for office for the first time because I thought, this clown is running for the presidency… but this time, I’m just numb to it. I just find myself not caring at this point.”
Anthony Collin, a Peekskill resident, said he felt somewhat relieved that Trump won, despite him and his wife not voting in the election. He said he believed they live in an age where people vote based on emotions rather than what benefits them as an individual. “No one is perfect to be honest,” Collins said. “I think that’s the issue today. Like a lot of people go into these elections thinking that we’re going to get the perfect candidate for presidency and it’s like no one is perfect. I don’t care what side of the battle you’re on, no one is perfect and you’re gonna get someone with flaws.”
The Herald also interviewed two men who said they are homeless. They supported Trump, but did not vote in the election. Bob Janke, who has been without a home for almost a year, said he believed that Trump sometimes lets his ego get the best of him, but ultimately will do good for the economy.
Kieran Millar, who has been homeless for three years, said he’d like to see Trump close up the borders. “Because what’s happening here now in this country is ridiculous.”
Shen said he found value in voting and believed it made differences in democracy, but criticized the way candidates treated each other and their respective parties. “I feel like they’re not even really doing it for the right reasons in terms of running for president,” he said. “To me, it basically just feels like it’s another form of entertainment. They’re just trying to take each other down.”
