What’s something you’d ask Kamala Harris about? What’s something you’d ask
Kamala Harris about?
Aaron, 42, Wis., white
for A.I.”
Katelyn, 29, Ga., Latina
Ken, 57, Mich., white
For all the Democratic Party energy behind Kamala Harris, she is in a dead heat in all seven swing states against Donald Trump, despite his low favorability ratings and divisive policies like tax cuts for the wealthy and opposition to abortion rights. What would it take for her to build a lead in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — states where Democrats have been winning state elections and where Joe Biden prevailed in 2020 — as well as the four other battlegrounds, like North Carolina, where polls suggest some Democratic momentum?
In our latest Times Opinion focus group, we gathered 15 voters who have some particular insight: They all voted for Mr. Biden in 2020, and most of them have somewhat favorable views of Ms. Harris, yet they are soft in their support of her or have yet to fully commit. The participants felt torn about whether America’s best days were ahead or in the past and had seen some modest improvements in the economy — especially the job and housing markets — but felt worried personally about inflation and the future.
Perhaps most intriguing of all: None of them wanted Mr. Biden to still be in the race, but their enthusiasm for Ms. Harris was low, too — the sort of middling feelings that come from not knowing someone well or long enough. The participants reviled Mr. Trump; this group wasn’t undecided in the sense that most would swing to him. (A few praised him on the economy.) Rather, the group’s low enthusiasm for her is a warning sign that with just five weeks to go before Election Day, she has not persuaded the winning Biden coalition in the swing states to a degree that she can bank on.
The participants didn’t know a lot about her policies on the economy, Israel and Gaza, climate change, transgender kids, housing and immigration. Several didn’t think a Harris presidency would change much for them or the country. Listening to these voters, you get the sense that they felt she was not giving them enough reason to vote for her — aside, of course, from stopping Mr. Trump’s return to power. Will that be enough in the end? It’s an open question. The tight polls in the swing states make more sense after listening to these 15 voters.
Participants
Aaron 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
Amy 50, Pennsylvania, white, indep., counselor
Barbara 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
Beren 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
Bill 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
Brian 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
George 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
Katelyn 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
Ken 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
Lenita 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
Miranda 36, Wisconsin, white, Dem., paraprofessional
Nivedida 38, Georgia, Asian, Dem., quality assurance
Prince 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
Stephanie 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
Taurean 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
Transcript
Moderator, Margie Omero
Fill in the blank: The thing that worries me right now is: blank.
Miranda, 36, Wisconsin, white, Dem., paraprofessional
Inflation. Especially from a single-mom standpoint. At what point does it stop?
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
The price of everything.
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
Not being able to live a relaxing, calm, happy life if I reach 60-plus. I feel like I’ll run out of money.
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
Gas prices in Arizona fluctuate. It was cheap yesterday. And groceries. I’ve got a 7-year-old boy. I want him to be well fed, and it’s hard nowadays, you know?
Amy, 50, Pennsylvania, white, indep., counselor
Yeah.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
Same thing. Inflation.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
Health insurance. I have a chronic condition, and I’m worried about access to care.
Moderator, Margie Omero
We talked about what’s worrying you. What’s going well?
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
My job. I make more now than I ever did. I work from home, so I don’t have travel costs. And I have a future at the place that I work at.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
I recently moved to a new job where I like the work culture. Things are looking up for me. At the same time, I’m seeing a lot of layoffs in the software side among my friends, so that’s kind of concerning.
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
The stock market is doing well, so I feel comfortable retirement-wise for investments I have.
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
I would say my job and the Raleigh housing market. I feel a lot of job security, and my house’s value has gone up since we purchased three years ago, so we could see a nice little bump when we sell.
or happening now? Are America’s best days ahead of
us, behind us or happening now?
George,
35, Ariz., Latino
Amy,
50, Pa., white
Beren,
40, N.C., white
Brian,
61, Pa., white
Katelyn,
29, Ga., Latina
Miranda,
36, Wis., white
Prince,
41, N.C., Black
Aaron,
42, Wis., white
Barbara,
50, Nev., white
Bill,
69, Mich., white
Ken,
57, Mich., white
Lenita,
43, N.C., Black
Nivedida,
38, Ga., Asian
Stephanie,
50, Ariz., white
Taurean,
26, Pa., Black
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
I believe they’re behind us. It’s stressful keeping a job at times. You never know what’s going to happen to you when you walk out your door. There’s a lot of corruption, a lot of police brutality and police killings.
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
If you look at the ratios of yearly income to average housing cost, I don’t think affordability is going to come back. The school shootings, teen-on-teen violence, global warming. I think we’ve set off a runaway train that we won’t be able to pull back.
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
Well, I like to stay optimistic. Some changes just need to be made with the economy.
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
I’m excited about the potential for technology to improve our lives.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
How would you define the choice between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump? What is this election about to you?
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
The Constitution — why it was written, why we have the Bill of Rights. When a person says that Article II says, “I can do anything I want,” that is a threat to our democracy.
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
They can’t read the Bible in schools, but you can have transgenders come to the schools and read transgender books to our kids. Trump is towards cutting it out, and Kamala isn’t. But at the same time, there’s things about Trump I don’t like, and there’s things that I would want to vote for Kamala for. Personality is one thing, but what are you going to actually do for our country? That’s more what I’m concerned about.
Stephanie, 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
I think Trump’s a disgusting human being, but I don’t really know anything that’s all that great about Kamala.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
It is between an educated, sensible, moderate person — what she’s going to do policy-wise? — versus a very strong, opinionated person.
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
For me, it’s probably more voting against one person. Trump’s too old and too demeaning to people.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
How would you describe Trump’s vision for America’s future?
Amy, 50, Pennsylvania, white, indep., counselor
I’ve watched the debates. I’ve seen the back and forth. And I really don’t feel like he has a plan. It was mostly just arguing and just coming back at Kamala with insults.
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
Trump has been quite articulate about mass deportations of people he doesn’t think should be here. His perspective runs totally contrary to the way this country developed.
Miranda, 36, Wisconsin, white, Dem., paraprofessional
I think Trump’s good for the economy, truthfully. But I don’t agree with his behavior. He kind of scares me a little bit. I’m still undecided.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What scares you about Trump?
Miranda, 36, Wisconsin, white, Dem., paraprofessional
The hate in him and how he spreads all this negative energy. My two boys are biracial. So I think about how he is. He’s not careful or considerate towards others.
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
He is probably going to continue the tax cuts from last time, helping the 1 percent. Ms. Kamala, she wants them to pay more. I just think Trump is heartless in a sense, with abortion rights, for example.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
How would you describe Harris’s vision for America’s future?
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
She’s going to stand up for women’s rights, for the right to choose. She is focused on uniting the country. Instead of going down the rabbit hole of what Project 2025 could be, she’d be the opposite of that.
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
It would be a country where it doesn’t matter your gender. You still have bodily autonomy. It’s not something that can be taken away from you. There’d be more opportunity.
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
Her policies sound good on one hand, but they don’t seem like they are necessarily going to solve issues. I know she’s talked about providing a $25,000 benefit for people to purchase houses if they’re, like, a first-time home buyer. But to me, there’s a supply issue, not so much the demand issue. She and Trump have both talked about not taxing tips, but that seems like a pretty overall small impact. Biden came in with a plan to reach across the aisle. I’m not hearing that as much from Kamala, and that makes me worried, going forward, that it’s going to be maybe the farther left, more progressive side of the Democratic Party that’s ultimately going to have more say.
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
I think that if she’s elected, she’ll place a good amount of money into social services, which will benefit me and benefit others that I work with.
down more to issues or values for you? When deciding who to vote
for, does it come down more
to issues or values for you?
Amy,
50, Pa., white
Barbara,
50, Nev., white
Beren,
40, N.C., white
George,
35, Ariz., Latino
Lenita,
43, N.C., Black
Miranda,
36, Wis., white
Prince,
41, N.C., Black
Stephanie,
50, Ariz., white
Aaron,
42, Wis., white
Bill,
69, Mich., white
Brian,
61, Pa., white
Katelyn,
29, Ga., Latina
Ken,
57, Mich., white
Nivedida,
38, Ga., Asian
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
For me, Trump is a very self-centered person, and Kamala at least has some goals for the country. It’s like giving her a chance, whereas for Trump, it’s going to be a second chance. We saw what happened in those four years.
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
Trump having the megaphone of the presidency for four more years and using it to be as divisive as he is now, if not more — I’m just not willing to live with that.
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
I feel very much the same. I think Kamala is open to different people and different perspectives. Trump’s already made up his mind on virtually everything.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Beren, you said issues were more important to you. What did you have in mind?
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
The ability to work across the aisle. I don’t see either candidate’s policies right now as easy to enact, with tight control of the House and Senate. I want to see things that are actually going to get passed versus maybe pie-in-the-sky type of ideas.
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
I said issues matter more to me, because at my job, for example, there are certain people that I don’t like, that have bad attitudes, that I don’t get along with. But they’re a hell of a worker, and they get the job done. Nobody’s perfect.
Stephanie, 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
As a human being, Trump is not a good one. But as far as the economy, I think he’s got decent ideas. But there’s abortion rights, which I think I would side with Kamala on. And who’s going to work with people who have different opinions rather than having four years of no progress?
Moderator, Margie Omero
How would you describe Donald Trump in a word or two?
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
Unstable.
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
Kind of a clown.
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
Patriotic.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
Idiot.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
Self-centered.
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
Know-it-all.
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
Self-centered but focused.
Amy, 50, Pennsylvania, white, indep., counselor
Egomaniac.
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
Condescending.
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
Wealthy, jerk, narcissist.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
Money hungry.
Stephanie, 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
Aspiring dictator.
Miranda, 36, Wisconsin, white, Dem., paraprofessional
Explosive.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Let’s say you saw Donald Trump at a cookout or a barbecue. What would he be like?
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
He’d be very loud.
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
He’d just be complaining about everything because it’s not up to his standards.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
It would be the greatest cookout ever in the history of the world. It would be 20,000 people at this cookout.
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
He’d give me a couple of minutes to talk about the economy or immigration before he went back to eating or talking to his staff.
Moderator, Margie Omero
If you had to describe Kamala Harris in a word or two, what word would you use?
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
Unpredictable.
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
Tough and intelligent.
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
Curious.
Amy, 50, Pennsylvania, white, indep., counselor
Down-to-earth.
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
Friendly.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
Relatable, working-class woman.
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
I believe she has a heart, so “heartfelt,” maybe.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
I wonder what she’s like when she’s mad. She’s a former prosecutor.
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
Really determined.
Miranda, 36, Wisconsin, white, Dem., paraprofessional
Wishy-washy. To be honest, I feel like I have an unpopular opinion, but technically, she’s been the vice president for four years, and we haven’t necessarily seen all the changes that were promised, and now she’s promising more.
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
Optimistic but inexperienced.
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
Driven and ethical.
Stephanie, 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
Approachable.
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
Boring. Before Biden stepped down, she wasn’t really doing any interviews. She wasn’t really talking about anything. It was just like she was just taking up space at the White House, just keeping the name of vice president.
Moderator, Margie Omero
If you saw Kamala Harris at a cookout or a barbecue, what would it be like? Taurean, how about you?
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
I feel as though she would be bougie and not really answering questions. I want to know more about what she wants to do with the state of the country.
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
I think she’d be neighborly, easy to talk to.
Amy, 50, Pennsylvania, white, indep., counselor
I think she’d be hanging out with everybody, having a beer, playing games.
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
She may even chip in, helping prepare the food, maybe getting the plates out and asking anybody if they need anything, that type of thing.
Moderator, Margie Omero
How satisfied are you with Harris as the Democratic nominee?
Miranda, 36, Wisconsin, white, Dem., paraprofessional
I’m not that satisfied. She has been the vice president for the past four years and not really implemented anything. I wish the economy were better, and I heard she was in charge of border issues. We could have done a little bit better for a Democratic candidate.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
She can beat Trump. No one else was going to step up and be the person to lose to Trump. She could pass a sixth-grade civics test.
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
She wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I am satisfied. I watched the debate, and I thought she knocked it out of the park. She’s been in the White House now for almost four years, so she has that experience as well.
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
I’m not satisfied with any of them. But she said that this generation of young people is just stupid. I have a daughter that’s in her mid-20s, and basically, she’s saying that she’s stupid. I don’t know how well I can trust her.
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
Echoing a little bit of what Barbara said: Harris has been in the White House. I think, given the timing, she was honestly the best choice, given the circumstances.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What do people like most about Harris?
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
She’s not Trump.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
She’s a woman. She’s about to change the narrative if she wins.
Amy, 50, Pennsylvania, white, indep., counselor
I think she’s smart, and I think she’s relatable.
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
I like her professionalism, how polished she seems in comparison to Biden and Trump. She’s closer to my generation than Biden or Trump.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
She comes across as a hard-working woman who is smart and who has seen the real world.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What do you like least about her?
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
I don’t know enough about her to make that decision.
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
I don’t feel like she’s had time to set herself apart from what Biden’s been doing for the last four years. For the most part, she’s run with a similar plan. I don’t know that that’s the best plan.
Stephanie, 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
I think I feel similarly. I don’t have a good idea of her policies on things so we know what the plan is for the economy. She gives the impression of a fresh perspective, but I don’t think we’ve had enough time to actually get details as to what that perspective is.
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
Same. I don’t know enough about her policies.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What’s something you’d ask Kamala Harris about that you don’t know the answer to?
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
The Trump tax cuts are expiring next year, and I think she should have a comprehensive policy on how she wants to handle that. I wish that she’d put a stake in the ground as to exactly what she would want to do to replace the Trump tax cuts.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
What’s her tipping point with Israel?
Moderator, Margie Omero
What do you think the answer would be?
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
That’s why I’d ask it. Last October kind of opened the floodgates, and I think Israel is using that to take out a lot of pent-up frustration on the Middle East. At what point is Israel going too far?
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
What’s her stance on guardrails for A.I. and other technology in the future?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
I’m curious what folks think Harris would be like as commander in chief.
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
It’s my and many people’s opinion, and it’s a lot of people’s opinion, that men base things off logic and females base things more off emotion. And I’m wondering what would happen if someone got her mad enough. Are we going to go to war because of her emotion or from her logic?
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
I think she has shown a lot of self-control and respect already, even just in the debate. I’m sure there were things that really got her mad during the debate, and she kept it calm and cool. I think it’s a sexist thing to say that women only react with emotion. That’s not true. We are logical.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Barbara, based on things you’ve said tonight, it sounds like you’re kind of still on the fence between Harris and Trump. What is that about?
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
I do lean towards her, but I pull back just because I don’t know enough about her.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you want to know more about her? What does it boil down to?
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
I want to know her stance on climate change. I’m assuming she would continue what they’ve been doing to protect and keep things in place; animals are a huge part of my vote.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
And why is Trump still a viable candidate for you?
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
I don’t know, to be honest. I’m not really sure if he is anymore. I just can’t decide. It’s kind of just like, what are we doing?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Ken talked about Israel, and I’m curious if folks have thoughts about how Harris might compare to Trump on Israel, Gaza, on China, on Putin and Ukraine.
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
My impression is that she would not take crap from bullies, whereas my sense is the former president admires bullies and admires people who are forceful, regardless of what their position is.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
He would be for sale.
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
It’s a risk-mitigation thing. I think that Trump’s willing to play chicken with Europe, and he said that he might pull out of NATO. I just don’t want to see innocent people suffering, and I don’t want to see genocide anywhere. Trump provides more risk in that space of empowering bad actors.
think will win the election this November? Regardless of who you’re voting
for, who do you think will win the
election this November?
Beren,
40, N.C., white
Bill,
69, Mich., white
Brian,
61, Pa., white
Katelyn,
29, Ga., Latina
Lenita,
43, N.C., Black
Miranda,
36, Wis., white
Nivedida,
38, Ga., Asian
Prince,
41, N.C., Black
Stephanie,
50, Ariz., white
Taurean,
26, Pa., Black
Aaron,
42, Wis., white
Amy,
50, Pa., white
Barbara,
50, Nev., white
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
She has momentum. Her message is more inspiring to people, whereas his is appealing to people’s baser instincts.
Moderator, Margie Omero
The vice-presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance is Tuesday night. What do people want to see, and how important is it to your vote?
Stephanie, 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
I would like to know their opinions on policies. If for some reason the president’s out and they take power, how good or bad is that going to be for the country?
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
I’ll be a little bit more invested in this debate. Since we haven’t really heard too much from Harris, I would like to think that Walz is going to be an extension of Harris’s policies and he’ll maybe delve a little bit more on what she’s going to bring if elected.
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
I’m really curious to see if JD Vance adopts Trump’s strategy during debates of nonsensical answers.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What’s something in America that you’ve changed your mind about after you learned information about it?
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
Immigration. What I’m learning from social media and the internet is that, respectfully, they’re really papering up immigrants with money to get started. I wish they’d give it to us who could really use the money. I really wish that immigration policy would be tailored to still be effective but also really prioritize the American people.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
I was very neutral about Kamala Harris, but she’s grown on me.
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
In the beginning, I didn’t know much about Harris, but now I see her as more of a unifier.
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
Yeah, I was a little cool on Kamala at first as a candidate, compared to Biden. I was a little worried — lack of experience and so forth. Once Biden dropped out, I changed my tune a little bit. I feel like we’re in a better spot now than had Biden stayed in. I’m not worried at this point.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Raise your hand if you wish that Biden had stayed in the race and was still the Democratic nominee against Trump. [No one raises a hand.]
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Is there any opinion you’ve held this year or in recent years that you decided you were wrong about?
Brian, 61, Pennsylvania, white, Dem., carpenter
Trump really lost me when he talked about eating cats and giving abortions after the child’s been born already.
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
I thought Roe v. Wade was a bad thing at one point in time, and I’m still very pro-life. But I just don’t think that the government really should be legislating one way or another. I think that choice is important, whereas in the past, I wasn’t so sure that the government shouldn’t make it for women.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you want to see happen now with abortion rights?
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
I think that there’s a middle ground. I mean, something after a number of weeks nationally, 20 weeks maybe, something that gives plenty of time but also not after viability. But I think what’s more important to me is that we build communities of support for people who choose to have kids and put people in a position to succeed and make sure that child tax credits and whatever support we can put in place to encourage people to build communities and build families — those things are important to me.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
I was initially of the impression that Kamala was not very approachable or had that connection with the people initially. Once she came out of the shadow of Biden, I see a different Kamala.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Let’s say Trump wins in November. What do you think things in America will be like four years from January?
Lenita, 43, North Carolina, Black, indep., caregiver
There wouldn’t be too much more of the middle class.
Stephanie, 50, Arizona, white, Repub., systems administrator
My job will probably be outsourced.
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
Honestly, we might get some more stimulus checks, but we also might go to war.
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
We’ve already seen four years of Trump. So I think he’s going to have a very big focus on getting the tax cuts he got pushed through last time pushed through. I do wonder what our standing on the world stage will look like, but I think probably the average American will be OK.
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
I think immigration would be really restricted. That could mean well for our economy, for other sectors in America.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
The police kill three people a day in America, and he wants to expand qualified immunity to absolute immunity to the police. With his policies, we would be in a police state.
Barbara, 50, Nevada, white, indep., teacher
I think the climate crisis will be horrific. I think a lot more places will be underwater, and I worry that women’s rights will be eviscerated.
Bill, 69, Michigan, white, indep., consultant
I think the country will be even more polarized than it is now.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Let’s say Kamala Harris wins in November. What do you think things in America will be like four years from now?
Katelyn, 29, Georgia, Latina, unspecified, controller
I don’t know that too much would change. I don’t think we would walk ourselves into a foreign conflict willingly, whereas I think that would probably not be true if Trump was president.
Taurean, 26, Pennsylvania, Black, Dem., security guard
Hopefully it’ll be better on women’s rights.
Aaron, 42, Wisconsin, white, indep., controller
I’m hoping that the government can start getting back to working together and making some progress, passing some bills.
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
I think if Harris wins, that means you take the head off the snake.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Who’s the snake, and what’s the head?
Ken, 57, Michigan, white, indep., studio engineer
It’s MAGA. If there is no Trump, where does MAGA go? That’s what I’m kind of hoping for.
Who is still really, truly undecided? Who is still really, truly undecided? 3 people raised their hands.
Aaron, 42, Wis., white
Amy, 50, Pa., white
Barbara, 50, Nev., white
Beren, 40, N.C., white
Bill, 69, Mich., white
Brian, 61, Pa., white
George, 35, Ariz., Latino
Katelyn, 29, Ga., Latina
Ken, 57, Mich., white
Lenita, 43, N.C., Black
Miranda, 36, Wis., white
Nivedida, 38, Ga., Asian
Prince, 41, N.C., Black
Stephanie, 50, Ariz., white
Taurean, 26, Pa., Black
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you want to hear from either Trump or Harris that you think could seal the deal to win your vote?
Beren, 40, North Carolina, white, Repub., accountant
I don’t know that there’s much that Trump could say, because we already know what he’s like. I think for Harris, if she came out with a more specific outline of some of her policies and if I heard some policies that aren’t too good to be true, like the $25,000 home-buyer tax credit.
George, 35, Arizona, Latino, indep., caseworker
I want to know Harris’s economic plan and her immigration plan.
Prince, 41, North Carolina, Black, Dem., food runner
I need to hear more from Kamala Harris in terms of what she wants to do. I hear a lot from Trump, and I agree with some of his policies, but I don’t like his character. And I think I need to hear a little bit more from her for her to win my vote.