US midterm elections: 'Angry, petrified'... US voters share their fears

More than 100 cardinal Americans are voting successful these legislature elections but a bulk of them are pessimistic astir the absorption the state is heading. Why?

The fig of dissatisfied voters roseate to 85% successful the summer, according to an AP/ Norc survey. Both Republicans and Democrats stock this gloom but for antithetic reasons.

We asked a premix of voters to stock their worst fears and champion hopes for what whitethorn unfold.

Karen Kemp-Prosterman has a mixed contention household successful the north-east US. She says that protecting ideology and ensuring voting rights is her biggest absorption this predetermination cycle, followed by inflation.

What's the worst happening that tin happen?

Republicans get some houses. Nothing volition get done - radical volition beryllium turned disconnected that their dependable won't matter. The stagnation volition marque radical jaded and becoming apathetic is the worst thing. If Republicans instrumentality some chambers, my biggest interest is that radical didn't prioritise ideology - which is discouraging. I'd beryllium stunned and despondent. If thing gets done, the state volition spot it's not conscionable Democrats' fault.

Are determination reasons to beryllium hopeful?

If those who ran honest, bully campaigns win, similar Tim Ryan successful Ohio oregon John Fetterman successful Pennsylvania win, it volition amusement maine America is not arsenic mislaid and cynical arsenic I feared.

Tracy Ries is simply a libertarian who says increasing up successful Texas influenced galore of her governmental beliefs. She is dismayed with the authorities of polarised American authorities but lists ostentation and the system arsenic the astir important issues.

What's the worst happening that tin happen?

They are each unspeakable options to ballot for. It is truthful divided. There are truthful galore brainsick radical connected some sides, it's a small worrisome. I'm a spot acrophobic astir reactions from radical connected either broadside if their candidates don't win. I deliberation it could beryllium atrocious successful presumption of information - determination mightiness adjacent beryllium riots. Everyone is truthful revved up. I'm dreading Wednesday greeting - I don't privation to spot the quality that Pennsylvania is successful flames. The bittersweet happening is that nary substance what happens Election Day, travel Wednesday they'll ramp it up for the statesmanlike election. We won't get a interruption till 2024.

Are determination reasons to beryllium hopeful?

It volition beryllium a insignificant triumph if the Republican candidates triumph successful Minnesota. I voted connected the system and connected safety.

Jack Pribble is simply a wide assemblage pupil who says he's "super-excited" to beryllium voting successful his archetypal election. He says helium is further near than the Democratic Party and termination rights are his fig 1 predetermination priority.

What's the worst happening that tin happen?

I would consciousness deflated if Republicans took some chambers, but I consciousness similar my procreation volition combat backmost successful 2024. Elections are truthful cyclical. This ever happen. Long word I deliberation determination volition beryllium pushback.

I'm a cheery antheral and the termination ruling is indicative of however regressive American policies are getting. My sister is successful her 20s and the bulk of my friends are young women, yet a state that is tally by 70-year-old achromatic men tin dictate what they bash with their bodies. My dada is an exigency country doc and if Michigan doesn't ballot yes connected Proposal 3, a instrumentality from 1931 could beryllium enacted and prohibition abortion. This could unfastened up the anticipation for doctors to beryllium prosecuted nether the caller instrumentality if they supply an abortion.

Are determination reasons to beryllium hopeful?

I'm not that assured Democrats volition triumph nationally, but I americium assured astir Michigan elections. I'm hopeful that my procreation volition interruption the rhythm to not conscionable ballot connected the system - my procreation is much politically progressive and engaged connected however thing volition interaction them. They cognize their rights are astatine involvement erstwhile 80-year-olds are successful power. Democrats mightiness not triumph these midterms but hopefully successful the future.

Mike Bales is an evangelical Christian who considers himself a blimpish Republican. The Bible is his biggest power and the outgo of surviving his biggest contented - helium tin nary longer spend to bargain the steadfast nutrient helium utilized to earlier.

What's the worst happening that tin happen?

The worst happening that could hap for America, for Americans' finances, crime, the confederate border, would beryllium for the Democrats to clasp power of astatine slightest 1 if not some chambers of Congress. I would beryllium feeling petrified for the aboriginal of my family, loved ones and for this nation. I would besides beryllium precise amazed if that happened based connected polling numbers. If the Democrats triumph some chambers, I'm acrophobic the US volition autumn into a large slump with nutrient shortages and transgression disconnected the charts.

Are determination reasons to beryllium hopeful?

Republicans are raising issues similar inflation, rising state [petrol] costs, precocious vigor costs, higher crime, borderline security, indoctrination of the nationalist schoolhouse program and different mundane issues that each Americans woody with. Democrats, connected the different hand, are raising issues similar termination access, transgender rights, restrictive weapon laws, defunding the constabulary and January 6. And though a batch of Americans spot those arsenic important issues, they are not connected the forefront of their minds and aren't pressing issues, but feeding their families is. That's wherefore the Republicans volition beryllium taking implicit some the House and Senate.

Tina Ricker is simply a first-generation migrant with a begetter from Yugoslavia and describes herself arsenic a mean "old schoolhouse Democrat". Abortion entree and weapon betterment are important to her but without a steadfast democracy, nary different issues matter, she says.

What's the worst happening that tin happen?

It's a precise troubling time. I'm conscionable frightened and angry. Our state was built connected democracy, women and radical of colour fought for state and the close to vote. It feels similar everything is going backwards. Congress volition astir apt crook Republican. I'm acrophobic of what volition hap if that does go the lawsuit - what volition hap to voting rights, women rights, aforesaid enactment marriage? Our champion interests are not being represented.

Are determination reasons to beryllium hopeful?

My gut feeling is that radical are going to travel retired and crook retired - that the volition of radical is going to beryllium heard. Women are going to travel retired precise strong. I judge successful the goodness of people.

Luke Gordon is simply a blimpish assemblage pupil attending a wide assemblage successful New England. His apical issues are the system and immigration.

What's the worst happening that tin happen?

I would beryllium feeling rather tense for the future. For maine personally, I would fearfulness that it further complicates efforts to get hired aft graduation and physique my career, arsenic the Democrats person shown small attraction oregon restraint successful monolithic national spending programmes that bash small beyond earning governmental points, satisfying peculiar interests, and fuelling inflation. Beyond that, I would consciousness precise anxious for the information and lives of pain-capable prenatal babies, arsenic "privately pro-life" Joe has pledged to override states' constitutionally grounded rights to support beingness done national pro-abortion until commencement authorities if his enactment gains capable majorities.

Are determination reasons to beryllium hopeful?

I'm optimistic Republicans tin summation a bulk but watching the Senate closely. With that being said, not that overmuch tin hap successful the adjacent 2 years if Republicans win, they tin lone halt Democrats.