Local voters react to national midterm results
“It’s national pride….it’s a lot of things. It’s setting a good example,” Robert Amick of Palm Desert said.
“I’m pretty jaded at this point to be honest so as I said a minute ago, at least the House is Democratic…” Leslie Hamady of Palm Desert said.
That’s just a sense of how voters felt after casting their ballots in Tuesday’s mid-term election. One person still with her “I Voted” sticker a day later but said she’s disappointed the Republicans won’t be able to easily push legislation due to a split Congress.
“I’m glad that we have the Senate, but you know…Congress frightens me because a lot that’s been done and done and I don’t want it undone in any way,” Lenno Wells of Indian Wells, said.
One voter who leaned Democratic said he’s pleased with the party getting control of the house.
“It’s all a matter of check’s and balances and that’s what’s exactly going on, so it’s nice that’s kind of back in place,” Amick said.
This year’s midterms brought a significant turnout with 113 million voters participating nationwide, surpassing the 100 million mark for the first time and eclipsing the total from the 2014 mid-terms. Some voters say they expected the split Congress.
“I think it creates a little better balance because maybe things will go working across the aisle in a better way now,” Sandy Boyer, who was visiting Palm Desert, said.
Local Republicans were disappointed with the local results in the midterms, but with Congress, want to see some bipartisanship between the two chambers.
“We just have to hope they will work with us, and I’m concerned there’s so much hatred in DC that they’re going to go after the president instead of doing the best things for the country,” Joy Miedecke, president of the East Valley Republican Women.
Local Democrats say they’re optimistic about the future of the party.
‘We are in a position where people have awakened, that the Democrats are still strong and still doing what needs to be done. We care about issues that affect the American people,” Elle Kurpiewski, political director for the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, said.
“You’re supposed to vote, and you need to vote. Everybody needs to vote and that’s just it. You just got to get out there and show your support,” Amick said.
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