DC residents see midterm elections as referendum on Trump

Residents of Washington, DC framed Tuesday’s midterm elections largely as a verdict on President Donald Trump, with most hoping Democrats retake Congress while some backed Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“I would say the most important issue is limiting the power of Donald Trump,” George Olson told Anadolu.

Olson said he wants Congress to control federal spending rather than serve as “a rubber stamp for anything he wants to do.”

“My main hope is that we can turn the Congress and turn the Senate, because I think the American people are tired of Donald Trump,” he said.

Susan Sarfati, 85, said the country faces many pressing issues, with the top priority being “having an administration that cares about the people, that are kind and that are not corrupt, and respect immigrants for what they have contributed to the country.”

“I know the economy is important to a lot of people … issues around the gas prices and food are very important, but what I said earlier is more important,” she said. “I think the Democrats are going to have a wonderful result in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, and as governors.”

One voter, Dorothey, 67, who did not give her last name, said immigration was her deciding issue and that she was voting for Trump.

“It’s not the people that’s good here. It’s the ones that’s bad here,” she said. “I feel like if the Democrats get back in office, that defeats the purpose that Trump is trying to do to get rid of all the illegal immigrants.”

“Other than that, I would vote for a Democrat, but they are all for immigrants,” she said. “I’m voting for Trump just to get them out of here because I’ve done seen a lot of crime from the immigrants in stores everywhere I go.”

Jeffrey Manzer, 66, described the vote as a referendum on the Trump administration, saying voters need “to basically put the brakes on what’s been going on nationally.”

He also pointed to the District’s lack of representation.

“Washington DC residents don’t have any elected representation in Congress that can vote. So, we are relying on everyone else in our nation to defend the rights of not only themselves but of the district residents,” he said. “We need to defend democracy nationally and in the district, and stop the pillaging that's been going on in our nation's capital.”

Americans are voting Tuesday for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 36 governorships, with control of Congress for the second half of Trump’s term on the line.

Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, and Democrats need a net gain of three seats in the House and four in the Senate to take control.

The District of Columbia has no senators and is represented in the House only by a delegate who cannot vote on final legislation.