Opinion: We want to hear from you: Your voting experience, reaction to 2024 election
This story was updated to add new information.
Folks across Wisconsin still have a lot to say about the outcome of Tuesday's presidential election, which became official when Wisconsin was called for Donald Trump at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, further cementing the state's legend as a battleground state.
At roughly the same time, incumbent U.S. Tammy Baldwin declared victory over Republican businessman Eric Hovde, marking a remarkable split at the top of the ticket where a Republican was propelled to the White House and a Democrat was sent to her third term in the Senate. Baldwin delivered a victory speech today, Hovde has yet to concede.
That's a lot to digest and discuss. Here are comments from readers who took our 2024 election poll and survey:
?"While I am saddened by the outcome of the presidential election, and I'll probably 'check out' for a couple of years regarding national politics, I'm comfortable with my vote knowing that I supported the better person, not non-felon, the non-insurrectionist instigator, and the one who had a vision for the country to move forward in progress. I can't believe that this has happened and it is a poor reflection on the majority of the country that a person of his character was selected; there were so many examples of behavior that should have been disqualifying to a reasonable person." — Adam from Cedarburg
?"I am disappointed in the quality of the candidates and their campaigns. Neither side had any clear policy goals and seemed to be running purely on the fact that they weren't the other person." — Asta from Milwaukee.
?"We need ranked choice voting, non-partisan primaries, and a non-partisan redistricting process." — Alice from Milwaukee
?"Boy, did America screw this one up." — Chad from Janesville
?"The outside money in the campaigns is a poison that continues to make the election system worse." — Richard from Neenah
?"Shame on the liberals in Wisconsin for propping up a third party candidate for Senate to cost (Eric) Hovde the race." — Ben from Hartford
?"I’m no longer proud to be part of a country that elected that Trump twice. We no longer believe in decency and would elect someone who’s a convicted felon to save $.50 on a dozen eggs." — Barry from Kenosha
?"Cannot understand any veteran or active duty military personnel who would support Trump." — Joe from Elkhorn
?"The country is granting too much power to the presidency and I am afraid that we are going to face dire consequences because Trump will abuse this power, as he has threatened (and done before)." — Craig from New Berlin
?"My fears are now realized, with the election of a vulgar deranged narcissistic convicted felon." — Gary from Wausau
?"Praise the Lord!" — Lee from Hudson
?"A never-ending election that sowed such hatred by both sides makes me sick. I am glad it's over but the result will make me sicker beginning January 2025." — Ray from Cedarburg
Why voters supported Donald Trump for president
?"Lousy economy under Biden-Harris. Calling abortion women’s healthcare. What about baby’s healthcare? Lawfare against Trump. His resilience against the overwhelming consistent attack by Democrats and the biased news media. Getting up off the ground after being shot. I have short term trepidations with Trump but I had short term and long term trepidations with Harris. She was a very hollow and disingenuous person." — Michael from Grafton
?"Harris' incompetence and track record." — Chris from Greendale
?"The last four years have been difficult due to inflation and lawlessness in this country. During Trump's first term we were safe and the economy was booming. Harris did nothing as VP." — Ben from Hartford
?"The economy and the border." — Dean from West Bend
Why voters supported Kamala Harris for president
?"Decency and her character." — Cheryl from Racine
?"She is not a felon and she did not try to overrun the government because she lost! He is a spoiled baby and all he wants is attention and to bring us back to the 1950s." — Steve from Cudahy
?"She supports the Constitution, the rights of all Americans, is focused on health care not revenge." — Susan from Racine
?"The defining issue is Donald J. Trump's intent to become a dictator. I also strongly support Harris on Choice, diversity, kindness and caring. Trump is just a terrible, disgusting human being." — Stephen from Kimberly
Why voters supported Tammy Baldwin for the U.S. Senate
?Tammy Baldwin is one of the biggest friends LGBT persons have in Washington. Eric Hovde was clear he hates trans people. It was clear he was secretly conspiring with trans hate group Moms for Liberty and together, they conspired with political action committees to run several ads spewing hate about trans persons." — Jamie from Shorewood
?Her policies have always supported my middle class family and have moved Wisconsin forward." — Shelley from Milwaukee
?"In my experience, Baldwin has been dedicated to her constituents and her staff has been very responsive when we've called upon them." — Richard from Neenah
?"Tammy Baldwin has been a successful senator who believes in choice and fair play. Hovde ran a campaign of hatred against senior citizens, overweight, women, migrants, minorities, gender)." — Stephen from Kimberly
Why voters supported Eric Hovde for the U.S. Senate
?"Baldwin has done nothing but vote how the democrats tell her." — Dean from West Bend
?"Not a leftist extremist like Baldwin. What an awful nasty campaign run by Baldwin. So much money spent by the dems on this campaign. Identity politics by Baldwin at its worst!" — Michael from Grafton
?"He's an intelligent, successful businessman." — Lee from Hudson
?"Baldwin's track record and extremist left leaning ideology." — Chris from Greendale
How voters rate the strength of our democracy after campaign
?Stronger: 23%
?Weaker: 63%
?No change: 15%
Did you experience election anxiety as the Nov. 5 vote approached?
?Yes: 73%
?No: 27%
Readers who left comments on what sparked their worry said:
?"Knowing that if Trump won, I lose (Obamacare, Medicare, Social Security, Unions, and the list goes on) and America is no longer a true democracy (just wait and see). If Trump had lost, Civil War via internal terrorism would have been our lot." — Ray from Cedarburg
?"If my candidate loses, I feel no sense of representation by the opposition. Not only I am not their constituent, I may be their enemy." — Alice from Milwaukee.
?"A Trump win is a death sentence for our constitution." — Joe from Elkhorn
?"Fear that the Democrats would increase their power." — Lee from Hudson
?"The threat to democracy and knowing how many people I know support Trump. His supporters are also very aggressive. " — Colleen from Glendale
?"Democrat cheating in the last election." — Chris from Greendale
?"Donald Trump's style of politics is changing America for the worse." — Craig from New Berlin
It's been a campaign season like no other that we've seen
After enduring months of campaign visits, countless TV ads and a mountain of political mailers, Wisconsin voters had their say Tuesday.
The results will be closely watched because Wisconsin is one of eight swing states that could determine who is the next president. Adding to the interest is a U.S. Senate race that could shift control of the upper chamber to Republicans if GOP challenger Eric Hovde defeats incumbent Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat seeking her third term.
Now it's time to wait and watch the results roll in. We won't know the outcome until early Wednesday due to a delay in the city of Milwaukee's processing of absentee ballots.
Election anxiety may end up being the phrase of the year
We started the year expecting the presidential race to be between an incumbent octogenarian and a 78-year-old challenger. Joe Biden bombed in a debate against Donald Trump in June, insisted he would stay in the race despite calls to step down, then dropped out of the race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump survived an assassination attempt just days before he accepted the Republican nomination in Milwaukee. That was just July and August alone.
The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris featured an exchange over a false claim Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets. It only went downhill from there. Wisconsin had a front seat with the presidential nominees and their running mates making more than 40 stops in Wisconsin since mid-July.
Along the way, a new phrase was added to the language lexicon: "Election anxiety." Can anyone blame us?
Jim Fitzhenry is the Ideas Lab Editor/Director of Community Engagement for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at [email protected] or 920-993-7154.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Opinion: Share your feelings: Are you suffering from election anxiety?