The recent presidential debate has left some voters in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County contemplating their choices for the upcoming election. Rosie Torres, a lifelong Republican, felt her loyalty to Donald Trump waver after witnessing his behavior towards Kamala Harris during the debate. Torres, who was already unsettled by Trump’s stance on abortion, was further dismayed by an incident involving a cemetery official at Arlington National Cemetery, which she found disrespectful. This led her to prioritize “country before party.”

In this critical area of a swing state, various voters are reevaluating their decisions. Mary Nolan, a 70-year-old registered Republican, voted for both Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Trump in 2020. She is still considering her options after finding aspects of the debate intriguing yet unsatisfactory. Immigration, the economy, and infrastructure are among her top concerns, and she is scrutinizing Harris and Trump before making a decision shortly before the election.

Terry Culleton, a retired high school teacher from Langhorne and a Democrat, admired Harris’s performance in the debate but was deeply troubled by Trump’s false comments about immigrants eating pets. Culleton sees the U.S. election as a battle between democracy and something resembling totalitarianism, highlighting his concerns about the current political climate.

Meanwhile, Kelli Surline, a 28-year-old from Langhorne who was previously politically disengaged, has decided to vote for Trump due to rising prices and financial struggles. She underscored the challenges of making ends meet and her determination to vote for a change. Conversely, Ron Soto, an 86-year-old Army veteran and former Democrat turned Trump supporter from Levittown, objected to illegal immigration and expressed his aversion towards both Harris and Biden.

On a different note, Christine Desumma, a salon owner and former Trump voter from Bristol, has opted to abstain from voting in the upcoming election. Frustrated with the divisiveness in politics and its impact on her life, she has chosen to focus on yoga instead of engaging in the political discourse. Desumma highlighted that she found peace in distancing herself from the political noise.