Opinion | The 2024 Republican Primary Debate: 11 Voters Discuss

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Yeah, we have an election coming up.

Emily,


37, white, N.H., deputy town clerk

I was going to say the same thing.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

Starting with the Trump administration and now carrying through with the Biden administration, the attention that’s being paid to the need for industrial policy in this country.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

I think a lot of people are waking up. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s more OK these days to stand up for your rights and stand up for what’s right. Like with “Sound of Freedom” and all that.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

I sent my kids to a charter school versus public school for high school. Everything was one-sided at high school. They used to have community days, where they’d go out and get to know the businesses and look for internships and everything. And then with the last election, their community day was watching Joe Biden get inaugurated. That was something that didn’t feel like it was community based for the kids. I don’t like the way the school system preys on the kids. They’re being taught things they shouldn’t be taught instead of the basics.

Jill,


59, white, S.C., technical writer

The economy and markets just seem broken right now. Everything is so expensive.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

I don’t think that we have one. Some thought that might be Trump. But for me, as far as anybody around today, nobody comes to mind.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

Elon Musk. I believe he’s genuine. I believe it’s not about the money for him. It’s about the challenge. And it’s about humanity.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Trump, from my perspective, was the hero back in ’15 and ’16, when he was going to drain the swamp. And he did a lot of good things. But I think since his term ended, his behavior is a little bit suspect. Just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Our governor in Iowa, Kim Reynolds. I feel like she’s really on the right path. She is for parent choice instead of having the schools choose what they should be pushing.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

Nervous.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Skeptical.

Emily,


37, white, N.H., deputy town clerk

[Expletive] show.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

A nightmare.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

Nervous.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

Anxious, I think.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

Let’s make America great again.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Excited.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Undecided.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Ready for a change.

Jill,


59, white, S.C., technical writer

Anxious but hopeful.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Anticipation.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

I’m prior military. Our commander in chief — we’re always going to want them to do well and make the right choices for all of us. And that usually doesn’t happen. The ex-president is going through these indictments right now. It’s a lot to take in. I have grandchildren that are going to grow up with this. They’re going to remember these presidents as they grow older, just like we, at my age, remember Reagan and the Bushes. It makes a big impression. I never want anybody to fail. I want them to succeed, however they do it. But I haven’t seen it.

Emily,


37, white, N.H., deputy town clerk

I think the country is getting more and more divided. I have kids, two in public school, one that is actually being home-schooled. I think people are focusing on the wrong things. I am a town clerk and help do the elections. It’s going to be a nightmare. We are a small town. So we hand count our ballots. Those few nights are going to be long. And I just feel like every four years, everybody gets all up in arms, defensive, upset. I’m not looking forward to it.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Vivek Ramaswamy. He explains how he’s going to back us out of Ukraine. He explains how he’s going to slash the workforce, federally, by about 70 percent. And he said that if Trump goes to jail, he’s going to pardon him. And the thing I like about him is he’s young, a young Republican. He’s not 70. He’s not 80. And I think that’s a reason to be excited.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

If the election were today, I would vote for DeSantis. But when you look at all the different polls, Trump seems to be really far ahead. So then I just feel like it’s going to be a repeat of four years ago, if you’ve got Trump and Biden going against each other. I was a huge Trump fan. I would vote for him if he’s my only option. But he didn’t pull through last time. I don’t know how he would be able to pull it off this time.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

The debates seem very fake to me. I don’t feel that they’re fighting for us — just fighting each other.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

I’m going to find out who’s the worst. Ron DeSantis — I was going to vote for him until he suspended that state attorney in Florida for no reason. That’s the reason I won’t vote for him now. I’m going to have to go with Trump because I think he would keep America going. As far as the African American point of view, during Trump’s presidency, my life was a lot better. During Biden’s presidency, everybody’s got everything for free. And I’m used to working for what I want to get.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

I want to see how much of the debate actually centers around Donald Trump. Whether he debates or not, it’s going to be a big issue. All of his indictments. I look at when his indictments come in, and it’s usually after something the Biden administration doesn’t want to call attention to. Whether it’s Hunter or whatever, there’s an indictment. I’m interested to see what the other candidates actually have to say about these indictments. It might or might not change who I vote for.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

I want to see how much, really, they’re educated on the Presidential Records Act. They’re all character assassinations. Chris Christie, who during Trump’s first run was basically his errand boy, and then Trump cut him loose — how is Chris Christie going to react?

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

I’m anxious to see how DeSantis does. As far as I can see — I live in South Carolina — he’s fallen off the edge of the world. He’s been firing staff. What he did with Disney. He seems to have disappeared. I was behind him. Now I’m kind of sour on him.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

I’m interested in hearing more from him.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

Interesting.

Jill,


59, white, S.C., technical writer

Young.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

Is “hmm” a word?

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Confidence.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Underdog.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Bold, not willing to back down. I’ve just seen a lot of commercials about him. If the wrong people see those commercials, I would be scared for his family.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Strong.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

Intelligent.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Capable.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

Strong. Nice lady.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Confidence.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

I didn’t really read up on her.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Unfamiliar.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Competent.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Experience.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

No.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Second fiddle.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Scary.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Not trustworthy.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

Not equipped to lead the country.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

Follower.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Good guy.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Wolf in sheep’s clothes.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

I would say a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

Unsure.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Wishy-washy.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Powerful.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Courageous.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

It’s just sad.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

He’s kind of scary.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Self-centered.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

Questionable.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

I think he’s questionable. Maybe in four years.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

False confidence.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Roller-coaster ride.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Train wreck.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Sit down.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

Troubled.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Arrogant.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

Innocent until proven guilty.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

Covid. That’s all I remember him for, really.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Eager.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

Leader of the pack.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Qualified.

Emily,


37, white, N.H., deputy town clerk

Vocal.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Trump.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Trump.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

I voted for Trump.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

Trump.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

Trump.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

The economy. Being able to afford groceries and gas and heating oil.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Everything.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

I miss watching the wall get built.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

I miss the returns on my 401(k). They were a lot better under his presidency.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

His tweets.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

All of the protests.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

He needs to watch what he says.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

I don’t like that he has turned his back on people that he used to promote, like Ron DeSantis, Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

I like Donald Trump, but I didn’t like how involved his children were in the White House.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

I like Donald Trump, but I didn’t like the fact that when Covid came out, he didn’t stick to his guns of being Donald Trump. He tried to play the game. I wish he would have just kept everything the way that Donald Trump would have originally kept it.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

I like Donald Trump, but I don’t like some of the groups that follow him. I think sometimes, they’re a little scary.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

I liked his no-nonsense attitude or policy or however you want to say it. But I didn’t always enjoy the approach that he took or maybe the words that he used when following through on some of those no-nonsense-type things.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

Some of the groups that he endorsed, I do have a problem with.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

Take us back.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

I think it should be his legacy. I think he should approach the campaign that he has unfinished business and that he’s going to leave a legacy for this country and for himself that can never be undone.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Unfortunately, I think it’s going to be similar to what we’re seeing — the Republican Party attacking each other and pointing fingers and then trying to pick up the pieces to go against the Democratic Party. And I don’t see a plan from him right now that makes me feel very confident that he can take this election and win it.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

I think his theme is that he’s the only serious candidate. I think that’s all the more reason he should pay closer attention to the people running against him. It should be easy for him to juxtapose himself and say, “Here’s why I’m that serious candidate.” I think that’s why he should be at the debate, for example.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

He’s the most qualified. I don’t know if it’s charisma or power or just belief in himself. He’s so self-assured.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

I think Trump is the only person that can do it. He’s willing to be the sacrificial lamb. None of the other candidates are willing to take it that far. The other candidates may have good motivations and good intentions. But when push comes to shove and your life, your freedom, your money, your well-being are all at stake, they’re going to fold. Whereas Trump — I really feel like he doesn’t care. Trump is ready to sacrifice himself, his reputation, his life to make the changes that are necessary.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Trade with China. The wall. A lot of things with the military, with our economy, with oil, with the Keystone Pipeline. He just did it. And he just handled it. And that’s what leaders do.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

I hope that people can get over their own feelings about tweets and things he says and look at the bigger picture with where our economy is now. We could all have great feelings and nice tweets. But when milk is $6 or $7 a gallon and when eggs are $6 for a dozen, how many feelings do you really need to have?

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

I just don’t seem to trust him. He doesn’t seem to be on the people’s side. It’s more a selfish mode. It’s always about him.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

Ron DeSantis is backed by people that we should say goodbye to, like the Bushes. They’ve done their time. And they’re behind him right now. I don’t want the Bushes weighing in on how this country is supposed to be run.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

He’s big business, big money. He’s going to bow down to the big money. I think that’s the way Ron DeSantis is.

Jill,


59, white, S.C., technical writer

I just think he is courageous. And he’s thoughtful. And he takes a stand and supports it, no matter what happens.

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

Right, he’s just very strong in his beliefs and opinions and follows through. And he seems like a very family-oriented man of faith.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

I’m looking for another Republican that’s going to shake us up and bring our economy back to where it’s supposed to be. And I think he can do that. Although I like Trump and he stirred up the economy, I’ve also got to be looking at another strong Republican. And think he’s that other strong Republican. I’m going to watch the debate and see what comes out of it and go from there.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

I think that’s how a lot of candidates are trying to characterize themselves. Can they bear the amount of pressure, though, that Trump obviously can and just power through attacks, whether they’re warranted or not? Trump definitely has the strength of a strong character to do that, whereas the others, it’s still a question mark. We need to see more.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

All the downsides — it doesn’t matter. In the position that we’re in right now, we need Trump. It’s do or die. We’re right on that edge. It’s not good. Do you realize if Biden had died in office, because he’s older and ailing, do you know who would be our president? Kamala Harris. I just realized that. And I was like, “Oh, my God.”

Emily,


37, white, N.H., deputy town clerk

I think a lot of people are going to look at somebody younger because Biden doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I get nervous that people are going to be like, “Yeah, you know what? Trump’s too old to be doing this, too. So forget it.” I definitely think it’s going to be close.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Listening to everybody talk about DeSantis — DeSantis has a downside. We just don’t know what it is yet. He’s got to show something in the next six, eight months that will really catapult him.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

I just haven’t heard enough or seen enough of Ron DeSantis or Vivek Ramaswamy.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

I can’t even imagine anybody being better than Trump in such a short time, because we know who Trump is. So a new candidate has a lot of work to do to catch up to him.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

I look at people like Nikki Haley and DeSantis — they’re governors. But you look at the state of Florida and look at the crime and look at the unemployment in that state. If you can’t run your state good, how are you going to run the country? And look at South Carolina, the way Nikki Haley has done that state. I think she would be the perfect person, for me, as an alternative, even if she’d go for vice president.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

I would support her on the vice-presidential bid. But as an alternative, if Trump doesn’t get in, that’d be my person, Nikki Haley.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

Yeah, the most recent indictments in Georgia are state charges. Whether Trump wins, the president can’t just hand-wave those away. He’s going to have to face the music, I guess, one way or the other, as far as how those shake out.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

It goes back to what I was talking about earlier. All of these charges and all of these different entities trying to get after him — it just makes me feel like he’s got something or he has the ability to change things and they don’t want him anywhere near this election.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

I feel the same way Ryan does. The more charges they bring up, the more they want to bury him monetarily and to keep him from campaigning. So because of each of these indictments and then following something that’s happened in the Biden administration, when I look at the timeline, it makes me more likely to put that vote in that column.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

Regardless of how the various trials go, if he ends up getting on the ticket, I’ll vote for him. But up until then, whatever plays out and however that goes, it’s just part of the whole act of Washington and how they do things. Whether he gets pulled down into it or whether he rises above it, nothing that I can do about that. If he gets the ticket, I’ll vote for him.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

No one in America is supposed to be above the law. So if a jury of his peers convicts him of doing something, he’s guilty of it. And I think he should be served justice like anybody else would. And I would just move on to the next candidate.

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

For me, It would depend on the charges, what the actual outcome of the charges would be, what he pled to. Look, he just happens to be the one that they picked on. You really want to pick on a president that’s been dirty, look at the Bushes. My God. They just never had anybody pull their covers. But I don’t think it has anything to do with how he’s going to run the country.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

Like Woody keeps saying, until you’re convicted, you’re presumed innocent. But even if he is convicted of something, then if he should win the election, they’re either going to pardon him or give him a suspended or deferred sentence or whatever. I don’t know about the state charges in Georgia. So that’s the big question I have or concern I have.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

This is a democratic society. And it works both ways. And we still have a year and change before the election. And we still have a lot of Republicans and a lot of smart people digging through and compiling evidence against Joe Biden. We may be having a different discussion in six to eight months than we are right now. And a lot of the stuff that maybe Trump is being indicted for will seem like child’s play compared to some of the indictments that are going to be coming down the line for the sitting president. Let’s wait and see what happens.

Charlene,


60, white, N.H., medical billing

I don’t want him to go because it will turn into a [expletive] show if he does. Pardon the French. I think his best bet is not to go at all and let the other candidates do their own damage to themselves.

Ryan,


43, white, S.C., construction manager

Yeah, I agree. I think it’s like football. The preseason games, the starting quarterbacks don’t play. They let the backups play. Aaron Rodgers isn’t going out there and playing preseason football games. The guys that are trying to prove themselves are the ones playing. He’s already proved himself in the majority of people’s eyes. I think he needs to wait and do debates when it actually matters, when all of the riffraff are narrowed down and it’s the final guy he needs to go against.

Alexander,


32, white, Iowa, network administrator

I would like him to show up. But I want the moderation of the debate to be very strict, such that the other candidates that make it on the stage are not able to just hit him with “Well, we don’t have the baggage that you have, and therefore, we’re better.” I want them to get a little bit more into the meat and potatoes of “OK, we, by and large, agree with you on a whole bunch of issues. Here’s why we’re going to implement it better than you did, given that you were already president.”

Kimberly,


54, white, Nev., entrepreneur

Yeah. Keep the irrelevant stuff out of it because the indictments are — to me, it’s just a bunch of hogwash. The only reason why I would want Trump to attend it is because he’s got something in his pocket.

Woody,


70, Black, Iowa, delivery driver

Well, I would go with what Ryan was saying. I’d just wait until he has that debate against Joe Biden. And that’s when it’s going to be good. All these other people, that’s when your starters come. And when you have that debate with Joe Biden, he would beat it. If they’re going to character assassinate each other, we can see who’s the best.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

What do you want to achieve as president, and what’s your detailed plan to get there?

Jill,


59, white, S.C., technical writer

The one question I would ask would be, “How would I get out of that job?”

Holly,


45, white, Iowa, teacher

As soon as you get in the White House, what are your top priorities that you want to take care of as soon as possible?

Emily,


37, white, N.H., deputy town clerk

I’m with Holly on that. I would want to know what their plans are.

Emily,


37, white, N.H., deputy town clerk

The country’s debt, education, health care.

Kim,


54, mixed race, Nev., notary

I’d ask what they’re going to do for our economy.

Dawn,


59, white, Nev., cook

I hope not.

William,


63, white, S.C., retired

I don’t think he’s going to make it that far.