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Democrat or Republican, it’s mostly about Trump Even as Clinton wins Virginia, many voters seem focused on Trump
(about 1 hour later)
There were Hillary Clinton supporters who voted for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to send a message to Republican front-runner Donald Trump. There were Muslims terrified of both the billionaire and his supporters. And then there were others — many others, it seemed — who said they were voting for Trump because they love what he has to say. There were Hillary Clinton supporters — and establishment Republicans — who voted for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to send a message to Donald Trump. There were Muslims terrified of both the billionaire and his supporters. And there were others — many others, it seemed — who said they were voting for Trump because they love what he has to say.
Virginia’s open primary on Tuesday was in large part driven by both enthusiasm and antipathy for the business mogul who has turned this presidential election season upside down. Virginia’s open primary on Tuesday was in large part driven by both enthusiasm and antipathy for the business mogul and Republican frontrunner who has turned this presidential election season upside down.
“That’s what I like about Trump. He says what it’s all about. He’s tired of the politicians,” said George Kurutz, 69, who came out early to vote in Prince William County, a bellwether jurisdiction, and to rail about the “white collar criminals” he said were running Congress.
“They’re all running for the next election,” Kurutz said.
The strong feelings for and against Trump appear to have driven up turnout in Northern Virginia, particularly in the Republican primary (Virginia voters do not register by party and can request either a Democratic or a Republican ballot on primary day). Across the Washington suburbs, election officials said more voters cast Republican ballots in Tuesday’s primary than had in 2008.
[Trump rally in Radford, Va. turns ugly when Secret Service agent scuffles with photographer]
“I hate to say it, but I like Trump,” Charlie Selby, 73, said after casting his ballot at Brentsville High School in Prince William County, a bellwether jurisdiction. “He’s kind of a loudmouth, but he’s got people’s attention. . . . None of those other turkey necks ever met a payroll.”“I hate to say it, but I like Trump,” Charlie Selby, 73, said after casting his ballot at Brentsville High School in Prince William County, a bellwether jurisdiction. “He’s kind of a loudmouth, but he’s got people’s attention. . . . None of those other turkey necks ever met a payroll.”
In liberal Arlington, legal secretary Madelon Bloom thought she could best help Clinton win the general election by casting a ballot for Trump.
“I voted for Hillary by voting for Trump,” Bloom said after casting her ballot at Glebe Elementary School. “I think if Trump — I call him Chump — gets the nomination, people will be appalled, and the Republicans won’t vote in November.”
Among Democratic voters, many were enthusiastic about Clinton, who showered the state with attention in recent days and was declared the winner moments after the polls closed at 7 p.m. But there were also strong pockets who spoke passionately about Bernie Sanders, her Democratic rival. Among those who cast Republican ballots, there was a strong current of support for Rubio, and — to a lesser degree — Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Amanda Rohrer, 23, a financial analyst from Arlington who leans Republican, voted for Kasich. “I’m having a hard time finding a moderate candidate who is electable,” said Rohrer, who is gay. “I can’t vote for Cruz or Trump.”
Clinton supporter Gladys Johnson, of Richmond, said she was excited about the potential to elect the first female president. “Our country is in bad shape,” said Johnson, 83. “It’s just time we get a lady in the White House as president. And I think she’ll do a marvelous job.”
Maria Cardona, 57, a day-care worker from El Salvador voting in Herndon, said that Clinton “has a good heart.” “The Democrats have a more human feeling than the Republicans for immigrants, whether they have papers or not,” she added.
But some Clinton voters were more resigned than enthused.
“I don’t really like anybody,” said Nick Mohler, 53, of Loudoun County, who said he went with Clinton because he thinks she has a better chance than Sanders at succeeding with a Republican-dominated Congress. “I’m holding my nose this election.”
Several Democratic voters similarly described Sanders as a likable but unrealistic candidate. Others saw him as a breath of fresh air.
“His ideas are to treat the common man well. And as a common man, I like that,” said Don Rawlings, 57, also a Loudoun voter.
Jaime Urteaga, 41, a realtor from Peru in diverse Centreville, also took the plunge for Sanders. He considers himself a Republican, but thinks “the Republicans have gone crazy.” He said he understood that some Americans feel they are “losing their country,” but said that Trump represents “something close to fascism.”
Arlington resident Casey Stahl, 26, said he will support Clinton in the general election, reluctantly, but voted for Rubio in the primary because his main goal is to block Trump from the Republican nomination.
“There are plenty of candidates I’d like to oppose, but choosing one I’d like to support is harder,” said Stahl, who works for a defense contractor.
Norfolk city employee and Clinton supporter Jessica Dennis likewise cast her ballot for Rubio — believing that by doing so, she could help stop Trump. He “talks a lot and says a lot of words, but frequently, I don’t think he knows what he’s saying,” said the 28-year-old.
Norfolk’s Sherri Goldman, a Clinton supporter, said those kind of shenanigans were foolish.
“One thing I’ve learned in my 60 years is you can’t take one vote for granted, you really can’t,” she said. “I lived in an area where seven votes separated the candidates for mayor.”
Goldman was one of many Clinton voters who said they were motivated by fear of a Trump presidency — a concern echoed by many of the Muslim voters who turned out in force in Northern Virginia.
[Dvorak: Trump’s bigotry is driving Muslims to the polls]
Mohammed Khan, a 49-year-old transport service worker in Ashburn, said he was afraid Trump would “shut down all the mosques in America” if he became president.Mohammed Khan, a 49-year-old transport service worker in Ashburn, said he was afraid Trump would “shut down all the mosques in America” if he became president.
Preliminary returns suggest that the emotion on both sides drove high turnout across Northern Virginia, particularly in the Republican primary (Virginia voters do not register by party and can request either a Democratic or a Republican ballot on primary day).
In both Alexandria and Fairfax, more people had voted Republican by midday on Tuesday than did by the close of voting on primary day in 2008, the last time there was no incumbent running for president. There were more absentee and early voters in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax this year than there were in 2008.
Veteran Alexandria precinct captain Mike Lane called the turnout “exceptional,” and “incredibly unexpected.” Polls opened at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
In Loudoun County, an exurb of Washington, turnout by late afternoon was on pace to match 2008. But registrar Judy Brown said that there too, Republican interest was higher.
“We’ve got more Republicans voting now than Democrats,” Brown said. “In 2008, we had more Democrats voting than Republicans.”
Prince William County only had scattered reports by mid-afternoon. But there, too, Republicans appeared to be voting in higher numbers than the past, said election communications coordinator Winston Forrest.
Some of those Republicans voters described themselves as Democrats who used Virginia’s open primary system in ways they thought would ultimately end up boosting Democratic fortunes.
Norfolk city employee and Clinton supporter Jessica Dennis cast her ballot for Rubio — believing that by doing so, she could help stop Trump. Trump “talks a lot and says a lot of words, but frequently, I don’t think he knows what he’s saying,” said the 28-year-old.
In liberal Arlington, legal secretary Madelon Bloom had an even more convoluted strategy. “I voted for Hillary by voting for Trump,” she said after casting her ballot at Glebe Elementary School. “I think if Trump — I call him Chump — gets the nomination, people will be appalled, and the Republicans won’t vote in November.”
Many Hispanic and Muslim voters across Northern Virginia said they were afraid of a Trump victory and turned out to vote for Clinton.
Hassan Huruse, 42, a language instructor in Herndon who immigrated from Somalia, said he was worried that Trump’s negative rhetoric about Muslims and other immigrants might unleash a wave of violence if the billionaire becomes president.Hassan Huruse, 42, a language instructor in Herndon who immigrated from Somalia, said he was worried that Trump’s negative rhetoric about Muslims and other immigrants might unleash a wave of violence if the billionaire becomes president.
“The radical views of a leader can have a powerful effect on people who are already angry. We have seen it in history,” said Huruse, who said he was undecided between Clinton and Sanders.“The radical views of a leader can have a powerful effect on people who are already angry. We have seen it in history,” said Huruse, who said he was undecided between Clinton and Sanders.
Gazal Modhera, 42, a Muslim lawyer voting in Ashburn, said her two adolescent sons were fearful of encountering hostile Trump supporters if they accompanied her to the polls. Officials at several mosques in the region, especially the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) in Sterling, said they had set up phone banks last weekend and spoken at community forums, urging Muslims to vote and emphasizing that even this primary contest could be decisive.
“Hillary has a good heart, and the Democrats have a more human feeling than the Republicans for immigrants, whether they have papers or not,” said Maria Cardona, 57, a day-care worker from El Salvador voting in Herndon. “People are very excited now. This is the first time many will vote in a primary, including me,” Sayed Ashraf, a community engagement volunteer at ADAMS.
Opinion was far more diverse among voters who had immigrated from India, China or the Philippines. Many focused on economic issues rather than the candidates’ views of foreign-born Americans like themselves. Pamela Constable, Antonio Olivo, Fenit Nirappil, Jenna Portnoy, Patricia Sullivan and Laura Vozzella contributed to this report.
“I don’t like all of Trump’s ideas, but he speaks from the heart. Plus, he makes millions of dollars, so he can probably do that for all Americans,” said Marivic Barasona, 56, a hospital nursing assistant. She was one of four Filipina women who drove together to the Herndon community center to cast their ballots, which were split them among two parties and three candidates: Two chose Clinton, one Trump and one Rubio.
Republican underdogs Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich are hoping to gain some traction with these moderate suburban voters.
[Trump rally in Radford, Va. turns ugly when Secret Service agent scuffles with photographer]
At the Chrysler Museum of Art, in Norfolk, Rubio won the votes of Neal and Karen Crawford, who said they think he’s the best conservative choice in the race and represents the future of the party. “If the Republican Party wants to win, it needs to diversify,” said Karen Crawford, 52. “He represents the new generation of the party.”
Kasich, who is holding an Election Day rally in Arlington, also received some support . “He’s a guy who’s been in Congress, who has run a state,” said Jim Damico, 51, who lives in Prince William and works as a regulatory consultant for government contractors. “He knows how to get along with people.”
Turnout appeared to be lower in central and coastal Virginia, according to election officials. In military-heavy Norfolk, some said Trump wasn’t ready to lead.
“He’s not ready to be commander-in-chief. He has no experience,” said Army Major Peter Johnson, who is 48 and is stationed at Ft. Eustis 30 miles away. “The issues are going to overwhelm him because they’re so complex.”
Ron Sledge, who was an Air Force radar technician for four year and whose wife also served in the military, also said he doubted Trump had the experience to lead the country. He voted for Bernie Sanders with his 18-year-old daughter because he thought the Vermont senator offered the best vision for her economic future and educational opportunities.
“If we are sending our kids off to war, we have to think for what cause,” said Sledge, 56.
While Clinton is far ahead in Virginia, according to pre-election surveys, Sanders supporters were out at the polls and energized.
“It’s about changing a political culture, and that starts today,” said Peter Lengyel, a 23-year-old student in Arlington.
[Dvorak: Trump’s bigotry is driving Muslims to the polls]
Antonio Olivo, Fenit Nirappil, Jenna Portnoy, Patricia Sullivan and Laura Vozzella contributed to this report.