Politics
Georgia focus groups show Trump regret shaping some voters’ midterm plans
In two online discussions, 10 of 12 Georgians who backed Donald Trump in 2024 said they regretted their vote, and seven said his presidency would push them toward Democratic candidates. The small, nonrepresentative groups offer a glimpse of voter sentiment as early voting begins in Georgia.
As Georgia’s early voting got underway, a group of voters who switched from Joe Biden in 2020 to Donald Trump in 2024 described disappointment with the president and said it was affecting how they plan to vote this fall.
In two online focus groups held Tuesday night, 11 of the 12 participants said they were dissatisfied with Trump’s performance, and 10 said they regretted voting for him. Seven said Trump would influence them to vote for Democrats, a shift from earlier groups this year, according to Rich Thau, who moderated the discussions.
The conversations were organized by a messaging firm and a market-research recruiting firm. They are not a scientific poll and cannot show how Georgia voters as a whole feel. The participants were recruited because they had voted for Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024; their last names were withheld.
Participants cited inflation, employment, immigration enforcement and foreign policy among their concerns. Charles, a 43-year-old Democrat, said he saw little positive in the administration, citing rising prices, wars and tariffs. Richard, a 56-year-old Republican who said he had been out of work for 10 months, said he believed the country’s direction had worsened.
Karla, a 49-year-old Democrat who said she voted Republican in 2024, said she now planned to vote for Democrats across the ballot because of her disappointment with the administration. Cedric, a 41-year-old independent, said he would not support candidates closely aligned with Trump, adding that he wanted someone willing to oppose the president’s policies.
Ten of the 12 participants said they planned to vote for Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, with some saying they wanted a senator who would not align with Trump. The group’s preferences offer a snapshot of how presidential approval could factor into contests beyond the White House, but they do not establish broader voter trends.
Thau said some participants viewed a Democratic-controlled Congress as a way to check the president and bring more stability, including to the economy. Thomas, a 65-year-old independent, said he expected lawmakers who were not afraid to challenge Trump to impose more limits on his power. A Republican participant, Jennifer, said she feared Trump would have “free rein” if Republicans retained control of Congress.
The discussions come as both parties campaign ahead of the midterms, with Trump traveling to support Republican candidates. Georgia began early voting this week, giving voters their first opportunity to cast ballots before Election Day.