From President Joe Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate performance to the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump to Biden’s July 21 decision to drop out of the race to the ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket, this summer saw multiple political developments that have left voters reeling.
As the dust settles, primary and general elections loom and residents have decisions to make.
Some Northeast Michiganders already know what choice they’ll make, like 70-year-old Brenda Davidson.
Davidson has lived in Hillman for about 20 years and said she’s a Republican and devout Christian.
“Our government hasn’t been doing things right for a long time,” she said. “And it pains me to see that.”
Davidson said the only way to fix the problem is to vote, and she will vote for Trump.
She said that, when she first heard about the assassination attempt, she cried.
“It’s happened before, or it’s gotten close,” she said. “But seeing it again is something else.”
Davidson said both Biden and Harris would push the country in the wrong direction.
“It’s like jumping from the burner into the frying pan,” she said of Harris replacing Biden as the Democrats’ nominee.
Larry Scheller, 70, said he has lived in Alpena all his life and called himself a firm Democrat.
“One’s a good person, and the other’s a nut,” he said of the major party nominees. “It’s as simple as that.”
Scheller said the change in the Democratic nominee made him hopeful.
He said he plans to vote in Tuesday’s primary — in which Republican and Democratic nominees for Congress, the Legislature, and local government will be decided — since he’ll be in town.
“Definitely, on the Democrat side, I’m happy things are going the way they are right now, ” he said.
Though a proud Democrat, Scheller said he still felt the effects when a gunman fired on Trump and his supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania, wounding Trump and two rally attendees and killing one rallygoer.
“I’m sorry it happened,” Scheller said. “I don’t wish that on anybody.”
Some people in the county are on the fence about the elections.
Matt Burcar, 56, is a Texas resident but grew up in Alpena. He didn’t purchase his first residence here until three years ago and said he thinks he’s slowly becoming a snowbird.
Burcar said he’s very in the middle on politics and doesn’t lean one way or another.
“I read the paper, but I think I’m about as invested as one should be,” he said. “I wish we had more options, more decisions, and better representation for the people. I would hope that people can discuss things and come together to find a middle ground that’s happy for all.”
Other residents have chosen to stay out of politics entirely.
Nathan Schubert, 34, has lived near Hubbard Lake all his life and said he thinks politics are “stupid.”
“I don’t really follow the news or anything politically,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of bullcrap, and they’re usually pretty good at keeping things divided on both sides.”
Information about Tuesday’s primary election, including sample ballots and information on how to register, is available at Michigan.gov/Vote.
