Georgia voters who backed Joe Biden in 2020 but swung to Donald Trump in 2024 are expressing sharp frustration with Democrats for extending a federal government shutdown, only to fold without extracting GOP commitments to rein in rising health insurance costs. Their complaints highlight a deeper vulnerability for Democrats: even among some Trump supporters, the party is still expected to protect affordable health care and programs for working-class families.
In recently conducted focus groups by Engagious and Sago, a majority of these pivotal voters concluded that Democrats emerged weakened from the standoff. Seven of the 13 participants said Democrats fared worse than Republicans, two blamed Republicans, and four said both sides shared responsibility, according to a report by Axios.
“They gave in to the Republicans,” said Trilya M., 53, of Loganville. “They did not stand their ground with them, and now it’s going to affect the people that [have] the Affordable Care Act.”
“It was for what?” asked Christine L., 54, of Peachtree City. “It really does make them look bad.”
“They always project to be a party of the people who they care about, the disenfranchised, the people who are in poverty … but their actions contradict it, they don’t really care,” added Elijah T., 33, of Conyers.
“Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries beat the heck out of this and wasted 41 days dragging their feet before eight Democrats finally decided enough is enough,” noted Brian B., 61, of Norcross.
“Democrats gave swing voters — who already hold the party in profoundly low esteem — yet another reason to mistrust them,” said Rich Thau, president of Engagious, who led the sessions.
Despite the criticism, eight of the 13 participants said they approve of the Trump administration’s performance since the January inauguration. The five who expressed disapproval cited persistent inflation, high grocery prices, a sluggish job market, aggressive immigration enforcement, and a sense that the president and his advisers are not treating their responsibilities with sufficient seriousness.
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