Brookhaven Elementary School in Morgantown, W.Va., was a polling precinct on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kylie Tuttle for West Virginia Watch)
Frederick Golden of Morgantown, West Virginia, voted Tuesday evening at Brookhaven Elementary School with the presidential race being his primary concern.
Golden said he feels immigration and the economy are two of the biggest issues affecting both the country and state.
“Prices are too high. Immigration is terrible. We see it here locally, see it in all the cities,” he said.
Golden, a registered Republican, said he has voted for Democratic candidates in the past, but feels Republican policies align with what his expectations are for the country’s future.
“Absolutely do not want to see Kamala Harris in office,” he said.
Locally, Golden said policing in the city is too lenient and needs to be addressed.
“I think people get by with quite a bit, the drugs, you know, and everything else that comes with it,” he said. “I don’t even take my kids to parades downtown because of the needles and stuff in the street.”
Golden said he felt more informed about the presidential election than state or local ones. Despite concerns over policing, he said he did not have a lot of information about the local races, including for sheriff.
“We’re so busy in our day-to-day lives. When you get it to the national level, it’s in your face. You see it all the time. Local level, they just don’t have the money to get out and campaign like everybody else,” he said.
Michael Reynolds of Morgantown said for Monongalia County Sheriff, he casted his vote for Todd Forbes due to his character.
“For sheriff I voted for Todd Forbes, because he is a good man. He’s the only Democrat I voted for,” Reynolds said.
Asia Mooney of Morgantown said the local issues she focused on were the quality of water, roads, public education and sustainability.
“I don’t think we need to rely on coal as much,” she said.
Mooney said her choice of voting for Kamala Harris on the presidential ticket was due to her health care and immigration policies, as well as the belief in a woman’s right to choose.
“Trump, in my opinion, didn’t have anything that seemed like it would be good for a Black woman in West Virginia,” she said.
Mooney said it was her civic duty to vote.
“You’re American, you should vote. Like, it’s part of your civic duty,” she said.
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