On an overcast morning in Stafford, Virginia, CNN spoke with a variety of GOP electorate on the Courthouse Neighborhood Heart, situated in Virginia’s seventh Congressional District – a district recently represented by way of Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, however one the place the GOP goals to construct on its beneficial properties within the November race for the Democratic-held US Space seat.
Best of thoughts for those Republican electorate Tuesday was once inflation, immigration and schooling.
Jennie Austin, a 62-year-old voter who was once not sure heading into the polls Tuesday, mentioned she spotted emerging grocery costs when mushroom soup was $2 a can. She mentioned highway development and gasoline costs have been additionally spaces of shock.
Austin, who was once a Democrat till former President Barrack Obama’s 2nd time period and voted for former President Donald Trump in each 2020 and 2016, decried the present “mudslinging” in politics.
Cisco Cividanes, a 77-year-old retired marine who used to paintings for the state, mentioned that whilst he used to spend $275 per week on meals, he’s now spending $290.
“What they do in Washington impacts us right here in Northern Virginia,” he mentioned.
“At the moment it’s now not going actual smartly. Such a lot of households are suffering,” mentioned Linda Robertson, a 74-year-old retired college bus driving force who drove scholars of every age for 30 years in Stafford.
She cited emerging gasoline costs as an issue. As a widow, Robertson mentioned, “it’s arduous being on your own.”
She additionally indexed immigration as a most sensible fear and mentioned Trump, who she voted for in 2020 and 2016, “was once now not a political candidate,” however quite “a businessman” and, “did a just right process.”
“I’ve long gone off the deep finish as a result of I’m uninterested in what’s going on,” mentioned Juliet Schweiter, a change trainer and the mummy of 3 youngsters. Schweiter, a Stafford County voter, was once volunteering with Crystal Vanuch’s marketing campaign for Congress on the polls Tuesday and is indexed as any individual who has recommended Vanuch on Vanuch’s marketing campaign website online.
Vanuch is the present Stafford County Board chair and a Republican candidate for america Space seat.
“I’ve made it my private process to be in politics,” Schweiter mentioned, including that she talks to her group and buddies about politics and the significance of vote casting. Schweiter rallied for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin ultimate November and advised her neighbors about him, she mentioned.
She cited the border, essential race principle (CRT), 2nd modification rights and inflation as key spaces of shock and mentioned the present management is “throwing its fingers up, announcing ‘I don’t know what to do.'”
“I’ve at all times voted at the problems,” Schweiter mentioned. “The Democratic celebration has long gone off the deep finish.”
Edward O’Brien, a 59-year-old Republican voter, mentioned he was once “disgusted with the entire slate of problems,” and indexed “the border,” “limits imposed at the manufacturing of fossil gas,” and “compelled manufacturing of electrical automobiles” as essentially the most urgent of his issues.
“Other folks don’t need a speedy transition to electrical automobiles,” he mentioned.
Likewise, Michelle West, a 59-year-old Republican voter who voted for Trump in 2020 and 2016, mentioned schooling, the border and inflation also are the highest 3 problems that subject to her maximum. She mentioned she needs to look “extra parental involvement” in colleges and believes that “CRT wishes to head.”
Anthony Johnson, a Democratic voter CNN spoke with in Stafford on Tuesday, mentioned “electorate rights,” “gender equality” and “human rights” are of the maximum significance.
“This is a proper and privilege and honor to vote,” the 56-year-old Democrat mentioned.
