THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — No matter who wins the presidential election, if the polls are correct, half the nation won’t be happy. That’s what happens when a country is divided.
“I feel like we've just gone so far with the whole left and right thing that it's caused a big mess with everything,” said Ellie Hovde, a senior at Lacey’s North Thurston High School.
Hovde voted for former President Donald Trump.
North Thurston classmate Laurel Robertson, is voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The students agreed that division will make it hard for some to get over the election results.
”I think it’s definitely possible for the pieces to come together, but it’s going to take time no matter what,” said Robertson.
Thurston County Republican Party Chair Corey Gauny voted for Trump.
”Everybody discounts me in this town,” said Gauny, “’Oh, your opinion doesn’t matter, you’re just a conservative.'”
He said he would like to see the parties come together following the election, regardless of the outcome.
”My philosophy is the only true failure is failing to learn from your mistakes and not growing, not finding a new path,” said Gauny.
Derek Day, who has worked for Democratic campaigns in the past, and is the chair of the Thurston County Planning Commission, said he is also frustrated.
“We have lost that ability to talk to each other. I feel like it used to be there. Maybe I'm just being nostalgic about something that never existed,” said Day. ”Everything gets boiled down to soundbites and talking points. And we've really lost the ability to have a meaningful policy discussion.”
Olympia’s Margaret Janis first voted for Lyndon Johnson for president in 1964.
“I’m really for Kamala Harris,” said Janis. “I would love to see a woman be president before I die.”
She said if Trump is elected again, she’ll be disappointed, but will survive. ”I’ve been through a lot of difficult things as an American citizen, and Trump is just another one,” said Janis.
Troy Johnson voted for Trump in 2016, but supported President Joe Biden in 2020.
Johnson said he is homeless, but still plans on voting this year. This time Trump will get his vote. He said he’ll be OK if Harris wins.
”My mom taught me, and she came from the Depression, you’re going to get up, you’re going to go eat breakfast, and you’re going to go to work, no matter who is president,” said Johnson.