Ohio is emerging as a key battleground in the US midterm elections. Although the state has long been considered a Republican stronghold, Donald Trump has visited three times in a single month, underlining the importance of the contest and concerns about his popularity.
In Middletown, the hometown of Vice President JD Vance, activist Constance Miller protests against the administration and the politician who grew up in the area. She says Vance once criticized Trump as a fascist before accepting the vice presidency, a shift she describes as opportunistic.
Miller says opposing Trump in the heavily Republican town can be intimidating. She has faced threats, including people appearing outside her home at night, and says some neighbors no longer speak to her because of her political views. Even so, she continues demonstrating, hoping to show others that dissent is possible.
At a Trump rally in Chillicothe, supporters wait for hours to see the president. They praise his immigration policies, his economic promises and his defense of conservative and Christian values. Some repeat false claims about elections and express hostile views toward Muslims and political opponents.
Trump’s supporters say they remain loyal regardless of his controversies or policies. For them, Democrats are portrayed as socialists or communists rather than as an equal political alternative. Demonstrators opposing Trump, meanwhile, accuse him of serious abuses and say supporting his removal from office is the patriotic position.
The division extends beyond politics. One Trump supporter says the country is more divided than ever and that people can no longer speak openly about their beliefs. She nevertheless argues that Trump has tried to unite the nation, even if the country is not ready for it.
In Columbus, the state capital, the focus turns to younger voters. Trump’s support among this group has weakened after gains among young people two years earlier. On the Ohio State University campus, Josie Speakman, president of the student Democrats, says students feel directly affected by political problems and are tired of constant hostility.
Students cite foreign policy, artificial intelligence regulation, rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of everyday goods among their main concerns. Some also question what Trump’s conduct communicates to young men and criticize what they see as inconsistent standards in US foreign policy.
Conservative activists are also present on campus. Maria, from Turning Point USA, says she usually agrees with Republicans but wants stricter abortion rules. She also expresses concern about the widening divide between liberals and conservatives and hopes the country can become more united.
Speakman, who is 22, says Trump has dominated her political life since childhood. In her view, many young Ohioans are tired of the cycle of mutual hatred and are seeking significant change. The midterms could therefore reduce Trump’s political power, with Ohio voters playing an important role in determining what comes next.
Sources: Der Spiegel.