How the Trump-Harris Debate Influenced Voters
The Trump-Harris debate didn’t shift every voter’s perspective, but for many, it powerfully clarified their choice.
Joan London knew from the start of Tuesday’s debate that she would not be voting for Donald Trump. However, by the end of it, she found herself in an unexpected position: ready to cast her first vote for a Democrat for president—in battleground Pennsylvania, no less.
“Harris clearly won,” said London, an attorney from the conservative Berks County. “And even though I have significant policy disagreements, I’m now voting for her.”
London’s political journey began when she registered as a Republican at 18, inspired by Ronald Reagan’s conservative ideals. Earlier this year, she voted for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in the primary but later switched her registration to independent, disillusioned by Trump’s angry populism.
Before this week’s debate in Philadelphia, London intended to stay true to her conservative roots and write in a different Republican candidate. But Trump’s repeated refusal to affirm the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine was a turning point. Trump suggested he could negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine, rather than firmly standing against the Russian invasion.
“Conservatives do not negotiate with communist dictators who invade other countries,” London wrote in a post-debate message. “It will take Trump’s decisive loss to reform the GOP, and I’ll return when that happens.”
London is among over 70 voters across 10 states participating in our All Over the Map project, which tracks the 2024 campaign through the perspectives of voters in key battlegrounds and critical voting blocs.
The Trump-Harris debate didn’t shift every voter’s perspective, but for many, it powerfully clarified their choice.
Joan London’s decision to support Vice President Kamala Harris marked the most notable shift among the voters we’re tracking during and after the debate. While no other voters who had already picked a candidate changed their minds, several Trump supporters did express concerns about his performance.
Chris Mudd, a devoted Trump supporter from Cedar Falls, Iowa, acknowledged that Harris was well-prepared but criticized her as being “all hat and no cattle,” suggesting he still believes Trump could bring about positive change.
On the other hand
Lisa Reissman, a Harris supporter from Wisconsin, had a very different view. “Harris was remarkable,” she said. “Trump came off as irrational and desperate.”
Enthusiasm can be a crucial factor in close races, and the mood among Democrats has shifted significantly now that Kamala Harris has stepped into the spotlight as the nominee. Democrats who might have had reservations about President Joe Biden but would have voted for him are now expressing more energetic support for Harris, especially after her debate performance.
“She demonstrated tonight that she is presidential material,” said Davette Baker, an African American Democratic activist in Milwaukee.
Larry Malinconico, a geology professor at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, echoed this sentiment. “While I’ve always been committed to keeping Trump out of office, I’m now much more confident that VP Harris is a strong presidential candidate.”
However, some voters who are undecided or leaning towards Harris have praised her debate performance but also noted that she was lacking in specifics regarding her policy proposals.
“Kamala Harris says she wants to support the middle class
but how exactly?” asked Linda Rooney, a former Trump supporter who voted for Joe Biden in 2020. Rooney expressed frustration over Harris’s shifting positions on issues like fracking and said, “This is why I don’t trust her. She’s not a moderate.”
Rooney admitted she doesn’t want to vote for Trump, criticizing his responses about January 6, 2021, and felt Trump was “off the rails” during the debate discussions on immigration. “I still can’t vote for her,” Rooney said of Harris. “But I don’t want to vote for Trump. I feel so lonely in the middle.”
Cynthia Sabatini, a Reagan Republican and “never Trump” voter from Media, Delaware County, was also unimpressed. She plans to vote third party or write in a conservative unless Harris can win her over. “She’s a good debater,” Sabatini said, “but she needs to answer questions more directly,” noting Harris’s lack of clarity on whether Americans are better off than four years ago and her responses on border issues.
Antonio Munoz, a veteran and former police officer who now runs a taco restaurant and catering business in Las Vegas, also found Harris’s debate performance lacking in substance. While he appreciated her poise, he was critical of Trump’s “untruthful comments” and felt Harris needed to provide more detailed plans for moving forward.
On the other hand, Zoila Sanchez, a Las Vegas real estate agent who describes herself as a Reagan Republican, is firmly supporting Harris. “Her focus on real issues and practical solutions was refreshing,” Sanchez said. “Donald Trump appeared erratic and out of control. We need leaders who are grounded in reality.”
Allen Naparalla, a winery owner in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, is also now ready to support Harris. Although he initially had doubts, he now seeks “optimism in the world” and wants to vote for something positive. “We need something to be happy about and look forward to. Enough negativity,” Naparalla said.
