New Yorkers Turn Out in Force as Presidential Election Grips the Nation
New York City, USA
As dawn broke over New York City on Tuesday, an atmosphere of cautious urgency hung in the crisp autumn air. Across all five boroughs, voters streamed into polling stations, casting ballots in what many described as the most consequential election of their lifetimes.
With former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris locked in a fiercely contested race, voters from every background and borough voiced anxieties, hopes, and deep divisions as they headed to the polls.
New York, long considered a Democratic stronghold, voted decisively against Trump in 2020. Yet, the political diversity across neighborhoods like Ridgewood, Williamsburg, and Harlem underscored a city grappling with a broader national identity crisis.
Ridgewood, Queens: A Borough Divided
In Ridgewood, a blue-collar neighborhood in Queens — Trump’s home borough — hairstylist Adrianne Kuss, 36, cast her vote for Harris but admitted she felt on edge.
“I’m nervous,” Kuss said. “There’s too much at stake to be undecided. Trump doesn’t represent us — not New Yorkers, not immigrants, not women. He’s dangerous.”
Pointing to the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, and Trump's inflammatory rhetoric on issues like immigration and transgender rights, Kuss voiced fears of what a second Trump presidency might bring. “I don’t want that cultish mob rearing its ugly head again,” she said.
Yet just steps away, Ridgewood residents like retired teacher Alice Kokasch, 83, offered a starkly different perspective. A long-time Trump supporter, Kokasch said she was undeterred by his 34 felony convictions. “He didn’t do anything that bad,” she said. “He’s not perfect — who is?”
Brian, a 28-year-old Latino immigrant and Trump supporter, agreed. “It’s about what he can do for the country, not his past,” he said, citing the economy under Trump as a key motivator.
Another voter, David, 30, cast his ballot for Trump alongside his father, blaming the Biden administration for inflation and warning of deeper foreign entanglements under a Democratic presidency. “It’s time to drain the swamp,” he said, echoing Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan.
Brooklyn: Hoping for Unity
In the progressive borough of Brooklyn, the tone was markedly different. At a polling site in Williamsburg, 46-year-old artist James Kennedy stood in line, a Kamala Harris pin on his tie-dye hat.
“I just want positivity to win,” he said. Kennedy, a long-time Democrat, cited abortion rights and the reversal of Roe v. Wade as key issues. “Trump’s behavior is just unpresidential,” he added.
Kennedy was among many voters who said they feared a return to Trump-era policies, particularly those affecting women, minorities, and marginalized communities.
Harlem: A Historic Moment
In Harlem, Manhattan, the mood was celebratory and steeped in history. African American voters came out in force to support Harris, who could become the first Black woman elected to the presidency.
Among them was 98-year-old Eula Dalton, escorted by her daughter, Rose, to the EM Moore Public Housing polling station. Rose traveled from Connecticut to ensure her mother could vote.
“This feels like when Obama won,” said Eula, who likened the moment to the 2008 election of the first Black U.S. president. “It was beautiful.”
Rose called the turnout in Harlem “awesome” and said she believed Harris would win in a “landslide.” “We know this is historic,” she said.
A City on Edge, a Nation at a Crossroads
Despite high early turnout — with over one million New Yorkers voting ahead of Election Day — emotions remained raw. Supporters of both candidates expressed fear that the opposing side might refuse to accept the outcome.
While Harris supporters worried about rising authoritarianism and the erosion of civil rights, Trump voters echoed unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, voicing skepticism about the legitimacy of the vote.
As the sun set over the skyline, one thing was clear: for New York City and the nation, this was more than just an election. It was a battle over identity, values, and the direction of the United States for years to come.
